Northern Virginia Area PerioProtect and Sleep Disorders

Dental Answers for Snoring and C-PAP Machine Intolerance

51% of American admit sleepiness interferes with work, one-third do not get a good night’s sleep, and 23%  of married couples sleep apart. Snoring is not only annoying and divisive, it can progress into life-threatening Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA, Lindberg, American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 1999).

Apnea means absence of breathing, and the obstruction comes from the tongue plugging the throat.  People with OSA are 23.3 times more likely to die from a heart attack than those without OSA.  Moderate to severe OSA patients have a 15 X risk of motor vehicle accidents (Horstmann, Sleep, 2000).

The father of sleep medicine states: “Cardiovascular disease, stroke, and sudden death head a long list of sleep-related ills and deaths: weight gain, GERD, asthma, diabetes type II, impotence, fatigue, and traffic fatalities” (Dement, JAMA, March, 1993).  Known predictors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea include:

Whole Health Dental Center screens for sleep disorders because they are treatable and preventable. The tongue is not the culprit, but a victim pushed into the throat by small jaws, crowded teeth, deep overbite, and uneven head bones. (Click TMJ -Dental-Cranial Distress)  

Snoring can be easily helped by oral appliance therapy (OAT) plus positive lifestyle changes can help. An Oral Appliance keeps the lower jaw forward and the tongue out of the throat during sleep.  Gentle dental arch expansion appliances can make room for the tongue to take its normal position naturally. To assess your need level, please click Epworth Sleepiness Scale.  More on Oral Appliance Therapy: www.somnomed.com.

The diagnosis of OSA is made by a medical doctor using a sleep test. Confirmed OSA is treated with C-PAP machine.  However, many patients cannot tolerate C-PAP machines. In mild-moderate cases, Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) can be a comparable alternative to C-PAP (Gostsopoulos, Sleep, 2004). OAT is filed as a medical claim, provided that the medical necessity is established by sleep test. Click www.mysleeptest.com for a sleep test done right in your own bed (recommended).

A mouth with enough room for the tongue is vital to sleep and wellness.  For a consultation how dental and lifestyle answers can help your snoring and C-PAP intolerance, please call Whole Health Dental Center: (703) 385-6425.  
 

• 1/3 of heart disease patients and 65-80% of stroke patients have OSA
• 80% of OSA patients going for sleep tests have Erectile Dysfunction
• OSA patients get diabetes 5 times more often compared to general population: 15% compared to 3%
• Excessive daytime sleepiness is key symptom in men; depression and morning headaches in women
• OSA patients are 2 times as likely to be in car accidents, and 3-5 times more likely to suffer serious injury
•  Restless legs, limb movements, and teeth grinding are often found in OSA patients

 Periodontal Disease, Bleeding Gums, Bone Loss Around Teeth Non-Surgical Alternative to gum surgery in mild-moderate cases

Cardiovascular disease is America’s leading cause of death, and inflammation is a key feature it shares with gum disease.  While cholesterol-lowering medications can reduce death from heart disease and stroke by 25%, the rate jumps to 79% when anti-inflammation is added, according to cardiologist Paul Ridker, M.D. (http://plum.tv/aap/keynote/). 

Science has confirmed that silent gum infections are associated with heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, diabetes, and premature birth with low birth weight. (http://www.ada.org/public/topics/oralsystemic.asp). 

Studies Say: 80% of biopsies of arterial plaque contain viable oral bacteria, and 60% have ore than one species. Gum inflammation is linked to coronary artery disease by angiography and carotid plague by FDG-PET imaging (Auer et al, Circulation, 2006) . "Periodontal disease correlates with and may be predictive of macrophage (immune cell) infiltration within carotid plagues." (Tawakol et al, Circulation, 2006).

Not Me: Periodontal disease is the most common infection around the world. Two out of three Americans ages 35 - 44 have periodontal disease (World Health Organization, 2003), and 90% among those ages 55 - 64. Busy people just don't have all day to fuss over brushing and flossing.

The Culprit: Biofilm is a film of salivary protein and resident oral bacteria attached to teeth surface below gum line. Under stress, dehydration, bad diet, and poor oral hygiene, dormant bacteria multiply and turn nasty. The biofilm then becomes a hot bed for periodontal inflammation. Bleeding points under the gums become pumping stations for spreading periodontal infection all over the body. Gum inflammation's effect on the whole body is real and can be morbid.

New Solution: PerioProtect is a FDA approved medical device made by certified dentists to treat periodontal disease at home with in-office care. Custom-fitted PerioTrays have a seal that drives peroxide and other anti-bacterials under the gums to breakup biofilms. 99.97% of pathogens are gone in 17 days (www.PerioProtect.com).

Patients Report: less bloody and easier dental cleanings, fresher breath, whiter teeth, and feeling better with more energy after wearing a comfortable set of custom-fit trays 2-3 times for 15 minutes each. PerioTrays therapy is the home care portion of a professionally-assisted program to reduce bleeding and inflamed gums painlessly and effectively.

Conclusion: Healthy gums is both preventive dentistry AND proactive medicine. Whole Health Dental Center supports gum-diseased patients with microscopic analysis, oral hygiene instructions, lifestyle & nutritional pointers and professional referrals.

For an appointment, please call (703) 385-6425.
 

PerioProtect ™  is a comfortable set of custom-fit trays made by a certified dental office as the home care portion of a professionally-assisted program to treating bleeding and inflamed gums painlessly and effectively.

PerioProtect is a proven method that clears 99.97% of the biofilm bacteria in 17 days. Patients where their PerioProtect Trays 2-3 times a day for 15 minutes and find their cleanings are not nearly as bloody or painful.

Whole Health Dental Center supports gum-diseased patients with microscopic analysis, oral hygiene instructions, lifestyle & nutritional pointers and professional referrals.