CPAP Intolerance And CPAP Failures Are Common But Somnodent MAS By Somnomed Offers A Comfortable And Effective Treatment For Obstructive Sleep Apnea

    GURNEE, IL, August 01, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Patients who have been prescribed CPAP for treatment of sleep apnea are often unable to tolerate the treatment. In fact, numerous studies have shown that only 23-45% of patients diagnosed with CPAP tolerate the treatment. One in four patients prescribed CPAP like it from the very first night and rarely have problems. These successful CPAP patients are often very enthusiastic about the positive effects CPAP makes in the quality of their lives.

Unfortunately, CPAP failures and CPAP intolerance are far more common than anyone in the sleep medicine community wants to admit. Patients are often left feeling like they are failures when in truth up to two thirds of patients never use their CPAP machines. It is precisely because of this fact that Somnodent MAS by Somnomed has become a major player in the field of Dental Sleep Medicine.

I HATE CPAP LLC (www.ihatecpap.com) is a company started by Dr Ira L Shapira a Chicago dentist who has been treating sleep apnea patients with oral appliances for over 25 years. As a pioneer in Dental Sleep Medicine Dr Shapira did research into the effect of jaw position on sleep apnea patients at Rush Medical School in the 1980's. His research as a visiting assistant professor showed that male sleep apnea patients had jaw relations very similar to female TMJ/TMD patients. The website www.ihatecpap.com has become a major source of information on sleep apnea and the treatment of sleep apnea with oral appliances. The Somnoent MAS appliance was invented in Australia has been showing excellent acceptance by patients.

Dr Shapira believes it iis vitally important that dentist not be limited to a single appliance but that patients should be carefully evaluated by dentists trained in in Dental Sleep Medicine. Sleep tests or polysomnograms are vital in determining the best treatment for patients. Treatment options inclue CPAP, BiPAP, APAP,Oral Appliances, positional training, weight loss and as a last resort there are surgical interventions. While some studies have shown that CPAP and oral appliances have superior results to surgery some patients desire a remedy that does not require use of appliances or CPAP machines.

Surgery to open nasal airways is the most useful for sleep patients but it will rarely be curative. Soft palate surgery has fallen into disfavor for treatment of sleep apnea but tongue reduction surgery and Jaw advancement surgery have had higher success rates.

According to the Somnomed website "The SomnoDent MAS is an oral device, which fits over the upper and lower teeth, much like a sports mouthguard. However unlike a sports mouthguard it is a discreet, precision-made and clinically-tested medical device that is recognized for its clinical validity by FDA,TGA, ISO 13485 and Swiss medic standards. Backed by over 7 Years of clinical research it is no wonder that the SomnoDent MAS is known as the MAS GOLD STANDARD among Dental Sleep Professionals across the world.

In the vast majority of cases the SomnoDent MAS is a highly effective treatment method for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with patients often having higher compliance rates than CPAP. "

Dr Shapira describes the Somnomed appliance as one of the most comfortable on the market but often makes two Somnomed appliances for his patients as breakage has been a problem. Somnomed is adressing the problem and has many new developments in the works. Dr Shapira says that Somnomed is probably more dediciated to product improvement than any other appliance manufacturer.

The following information is provided to dentists from the Somnomed website:

"Clinical Description Of the SomnoDent MAS

The SomnoDent MAS is a unique, sophisticated, Australian designed oral appliance. It has been the subject of numerous stringent, evidence-based studies that demonstrate the SomnoDent MAS is a safe, effective, comfortable treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
The SomnoDent MAS has a number of design features and benefits, which overcome many of the issues conventionally associated with oral appliances. These include:
A streamlined design with minimal bulk, which maximizes the size of the lingual space and reduces gagging.

An excellent fit in both upper and lower arches.

The unique design provides anterior and posterior contact, which provide a stable occlusion and prevent tooth movement, minimises tempero-mandibular joint discomfort and injury caused by bruxing.

The MAS is constructed in two separate pieces that allow patients to open and close their mouths. This allows clear speech, yawning and drinking without requiring the patient to remove the appliance. The ability to communicate clearly while wearing the device is particularly appreciated by patients and their partners.

The small form factor of the MAS and absence of an anterior retaining mechanism helps patients sleep with their mouths closed. This minimises excessive salivation, dribbling, dry mouth and other common side-effects from wearing oral appliances.

The high-quality fit of the SomnoDent MAS provides excellent levels of retention. Additionally, patients can titrate the device (if required) and it is easy to clean and disinfect. While it is exceptionally durable, its acrylic construction allows it to be easily repaired.

The device is titratable and allows for each individual patient's optimal protrusion position to be found. One that is both effective and comfortable to the patient.

SomnoMed has an on-going commitment to further research and development to ensure that the SomnoDent MAS remains a state-of-the-art oral appliance and the MAS GOLD STANDARD among all oral devices."

I Hate CPAP is presenting its services at the IACA convention in San Francisco July 29- August 1, 2009. Dr Shapira is pleased to be rolling out his new company I HATE HEADACHES LLC which will bring valuable information to headaches sufferers about Neuromuscular Dentistry and how it can correct the underlying causes of many headaches. The new website can be found at www.ihateheadaches.org or www.ihateheadaches.info and provides head patients with a new perspective on their disorders.

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institute of Health (NIH) sleep apnea is a TMJ disorder. The NHLBI report "CARDIOVASCULAR AND SLEEP RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF TMJ DISORDERS" THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE NHLBI REPORT.

"There exists a wide range of conditions referred to as sleep disordered breathing (SDB) including obstructive sleep apnea, hypopnea (shallow breaths), and upper airways resistance syndrome. All patients with SDB have frequent arousals from sleep and resultant sleep deprivation. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea may have frequent and repetitive episodes of oxygen desaturation. The most common clinical symptoms are loud
snoring, apneas witnessed by bed partners and excessive daytime sleepiness. In addition, the condition has been linked to delayed reaction times, difficulty maintaining vigilance and concentration, and to cardiovascular consequences.

Epidemiological data (Young et al. 1993, Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study) suggest that sleep apnea/hypopnea is relatively common, with a prevalence rate of 2% in middle-aged women and 4% in middle-aged men based on a combination of SDB and excessive daytime sleepiness. Unlike TMD, men are more susceptible than women and sleep apnea/hypopnea is hence less common in pre-menopausal females. Asymptomatic sleep apnea/hypopnea occurs at much higher rates in men (24%) compared to women (9%), but it is not known what proportion of these individuals will eventually develop clinical disease or be at risk for cardiovascular disease. Clusters of families with OSA have also been identified. Obesity or being overweight is a predisposing factor. SDB is worsened by the use of alcohol and sleep-promoting medications. Young African Americans are more likely than whites to suffer from sleep-disordered breathing.

Clinical risk factors for SDB include male gender, increasing age, obesity, and increased neck circumference. Retrognathia, a condition that can result from TMJ arthritis, also constitutes a risk factor for SDB. In addition, several different craniofacial configurations such as a more caudally positioned hyoid and smaller anteroposterior dimensions of the lower face have been associated with a greater prevalence of SDB.

SDB has been associated with hypertension by both cross-sectional and longitudinal data, and cross-sectionally with ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure and stroke. These cardiovascular consequences are independent of other risk factors such as obesity. Many of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are the same as those for sleep apnea (SDB). Approximately 50% of patients with congestive heart failure have SDB. It is well known that left heart failure causes pulmonary congestion with exertional and positional orthopnea and paroxysmal dyspnea, and that these symptoms are exaggerated during sleep due to volume redistribution to the central circulation. Systemic hypertension and/or congestive heart failure can thus cause SDB or can be the consequence of SDB. "

Other appliances that are useful for treating sleep apnea include the TAP appliance, the SUAD, the telescopic herbst, the Oasys, and tounge retaining devices. A more complete description of these appliances is available @ http://www.ihatecpap.com/oral_appliance.html

There are several dental groups who teach courses in dental sleep medicine including The American Acaemy of Dental Sleep Medicine, DOSA the Dental Organization for Sleep Apnea, ICCMO the International College of CranioMandibular Orthopedics, The American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. LVI, the Las Vegas institute has added Dental Sleep Medicine to it's offerings.

Dr Shapira teaches courses on Dental Sleep Medicine in his Gurnee, Illinois office and has taught dentists from across the country. Dentists interested in taking his course can contact his Gurnee office.

Dr Ira L Shapira is an author and section editor of Sleep and Health Journal, President of I HATE CPAP LLC, President Dato-TECH, and has a Dental Practice with his partner Dr Mark Amidei. He has recently formed Chicagoland Dental Sleep Medicine Associates. He is a Regent of ICCMO and its representative to the TMD Alliance, He was a founding and certified member of the Sleep Disorder Dental Society which became the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, A founding member of DOSA the Dental Organization for Sleep Apnea. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, A Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management, a graduate of LVI. He is a former assistant professor at Rush Medical School's Sleep Service where he worked with Dr Rosalind Cartwright who is a founder of Sleep Medicine and Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr Shapira is a consultant to numerous sleep centers and teaches courses in Dental Sleep Medicine in his office to doctors from around the U.S. He is the Founder of I HATE CPAP LLC and http://www.ihatecpap.com Dr Shapira also holds several patents on methods and devices for the prophylactic minimally invasive early removal of wisdom teeth and collection of bone marrow and stem cells. Dr Shapira is a licensed general dentist in Illinois and Wisconsin.

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