Dentists christchurch, sleep apnea, snoring devices, somnomed

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Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment

SomnoDent MAS™

Snoring is more than just a noisy social nuisance. It may be a sign of a serious underlying condition known as obstructive sleep apnea.

SomnoDent MAS™ is a new treatment from Australia, for sleep apnea and stopping snoring, which fits in the palm of your hand. Its unique design permits normal opening and closing of the mouth making it very comfortable to wear. It is custom designed to fit each individual mouth.

SomnoDent MAS™ for Sleep Apnea Sufferers

The SomnoDent MAS™ is an effective treatment both mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is characterised by repeated cycles of partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. This results in a cessation or reduction of breathing and a decrease in blood oxygen levels resulting in typically unremembered awakenings.

The severity of OSA is defined by the number of these occurrences per hour of sleep. These episodes of obstruction , and resultant awakening of the OSA sufferer occur five or more times per hour, potentially causing marked sleep disruption. OSA is generally defined as being in the Mild to Moderate level (5-30 occurrences per hour) where the SomnoDent MAS™ could be an effective treatment for you.

The SomnoDent MAS™ is the only oral appliance that has FDA and TGA approval in Australia. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend oral appliances as a first line treatment for snoring and mild to moderate OSA.

Is the SomnoDent® MAS the right treatment option for me?

If you suffer mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or snore, the SomnoDent® MAS should benefit you. It will almost certainly put an end to your snoring and will most likely eliminate or significantly reduce your OSA. For your bed partner this means peace and quiet again and a better night’s sleep. For you, it will mean better quality sleep. As a result, you will be less likely to suffer from headaches and daytime sleepiness and your ability to concentrate will improve.

Take the Epworth Sleepiness Scale test (pdf 227 KB) to rate your dozing off during the daytime.

If you have tried CPAP and found it uncomfortable, wake up to a brilliant alternative treatment for mild to moderate OSA. The difference in comfort and tolerance will astound you.

A study conducted by Dr Edmund Rose at the University of Freilberg 2004 proposed that the ideal patient for MAS therapy is one with a AHI < 25 and Body Mass Index < 30 with good dentition. Therefore, when identifying how effective the SomnoDent device is going to be for you, we recommend looking at 3 key areas:

°	Severity of OSA. The updated practice parameters of the the American Academy of Sleep Dentistry states that oral appliances (OAs) are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA who prefer them to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, or who do not respond to, are not appropriate candidates for, or who fail treatment attempts with CPAP.
°	Body Mass Index. If BMI is below 30 (which means that a person is not obese) the probability that the device will work is higher.
°	Your dentition. SomnoMed defines good dentition as at least 6 teeth on the lower mandible with no periodontal disease.

These three indicators offer a good guide to screening patients for oral device therapy and may increase the efficacy outcome of the treatment.

If SomnoDent® MAS sounds a possible solution for you, please telephone me for a consultation:

Rob Blackburne, telephone (Christchurch).