Sleep Apnea Treatment Offering Freedom from CPAP for Patients in Libertyville, Vernon Hills and Antioch. Dental Sleep Medicine Pioneer and Researcher to Treats Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Lake County, Illinois

    GURNEE, IL, November 27, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dental Sleep Medicine is a relatively new field and Dr Shapira is one of the founders of the field. He was a pioneer involved in early research in the 1980's. He is the founder of www.ihatecpap.com the nationally respected site for information on sleep apnea and snoring treatment.

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that is characterized by snoring and excessive sleepiness. While snoring is often thought of as funny it is actually a warning sign of a life threatening disease. Patients with sleep apnea have a 600% increase in heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, and type two diabetes are associated with sleep apnea. Studies have shown that patients with untreated sleep apnea have a six-fold increase in motor vehicle accidents and a 300% increase in accidents involving serious bodily injury. Newer research shows that patients with untreated sleep apnea have a higher risk of Alzheimer's and dementia. Short-term memory loss and decreased cognitive function is strongly correlated to sleep apnea. www.ihatecpap.com has additional information on the dangers of sleep apnea.

The gold standard of treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP or continuous positive air pressure. CPAP is extremely effective however it is not well tolerated by the majority of patients. Several studies have shown poor compliance with CPAP use, in fact only 23-45% of patients actually use their CPAP on a regular basis. Recent research has shown that most patients who use CPAP only wear it for 4-5 hours per day and not the recommended 7 1/2-8 hours. Oral appliances are a comfortable alternative to CPAP that treat sleep apnea without the hose, the mask or the compressor. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine endorses oral appliances as a first line treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea and an alternative treatment for severe sleep apnea when patients do not tolerate CPAP. Oral appliances have always been the preferred treatment for snoring. Studies by medical experts have shown CPAP and Oral Appliances to be superior to surgery for treating adult sleep apnea. Pediatric Sleep Apnea is best treated with Rapid Maxillary expansion orthodontic treatment combined with removal of tonsils and adenoids that obstruct the airway. Parents should never consider snoring benign in children. Dr Shapira also works closely with Sleep and Behavioral Medicine Institute with offices in Skokie at Rush North Shore, Vernon Hills and Bannockburn.

Recent studies have shown the dangers of untreated sleep apnea. A study from The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (vol 4, No 3, 2008) "CORRELATION BETWEEN SEVERITY OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA AND PREVALENCE OF SILENT CEREBROVASCULAR LESIONS" concluded that Patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea have a higher percentage of silent cerebrovascular lesions than patients without OSA or a milder form.

Another study in the Journal Sleep (Vol 31, No. 6 2008) "HEAVY SNORING IS A RISK FACTOR FOR CASE FATALITY AND POOR SHORT-TERM PROGNOSIS AFTER A FIRST ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION" concluded that heavy snoring is associated with increase in fatalities and increases in short-term mortality. Another study in that same issue of Sleep, "OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME IN SIBLINGS: AN 8-YEAR SWEDISH FOLLOW-UP STUDY" concluded "The results of the current study show that first-hospitalization rates are much higher in men and women with a sibling history of Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Ira L Shapira DDS, DABDSM, DAAPM, FICCMO has been involved in research and treatment of sleep apnea since the early 1980's. He served as a visiting assistant professor at Rush Medical School's sleep disorder service. He did research in the relation between jaw position and sleep apnea and TMJ disorders. His research showed similarities in the jaw position and function of female TMJD patients and male sleep apneics. In the early 1980's almost all patients diagnosed with sleep apnea were male. We now know that many women suffer from sleep apnea and Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome. He returned to Rush as an assistant professor in the 1990's to treat patients.

Dr Shapira's initial interest in sleep apnea was largely because his 3-year old son Billy had sleep apnea but his pediatrician ignored Dr Shapira's concerns. When Billy was 5 years old he was held back from starting kindergarten and that prompted a visit to the sleep lab at Rush Medical School. Billy had severe sleep apnea and removal of tonsils was accomplished to open his airway. Billy became an "A" student after his sleep apnea was treated and actually graduated college with a double major, double minor, Magna Cum Laude. This would not have been the case if treatment were delayed. It is estimated based on current research that 80% of patients with ADHD have sleep apnea. These children are often treated with Ritalin when what they need is oxygen and good sleep. Children with sleep apnea have been shown to have delayed brain development and may have permanent brain impairment.

The first organized dental sleep medicine group was the Sleep Disorder Dental Society which was formed 17 years ago. Dr Ira Shapira was one of 20 dentists charter members from around the United States who founded the organization. He was already treating sleep apnea patients for several years by that time. He worked closely with Dr Charlie Samuelson a psychiatrist who invented the tongue-retaining device and was involved in neuromuscular dentistry and was one of the first dentists to utilize the Equalizer appliance. He became a credentialed member of the Sleep Disorder Dental Society, which later became the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr Shapira is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is also a Founding member of DOSA, the Dental Organization for Sleep Apnea. He is passionate about treating sleep disorders and chronic pain and TMJ disorders. He recognizes the connections between sleep disorders, chronic pain and stress and anxiety disorders. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that dentists treating obstructive sleep apnea be well versed in treating TMJ disorders. Dr Shapira is a Fellow and Regent of the International College of CranioMandibular Orthopedics and is a representative to the TMD alliance representing the most important TMJ treatment organizations. He is also a member of the Academy of Craniofacial pain and has been honored by their board.

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine held its seventeenth annual meeting in Baltimore in June 2008 in conjunction with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Meeting. Dr Shapira attended the American Academy of Sleep Medicine meeting and had a prominent room, display and lecture scheduled at the Renaissance hotel to promote Dental Sleep Medicine. Dr Shapira taught a course in Dental Sleep medicine to several doctors from that meeting in July.

Dr Shapira has been teaching and writing about sleep disorders for many years. He lectured at A4M or the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine in the 1990's and taught physicians course on sleep apnea and its effect on overall health. He has a chapter on Anti-Aging Dentistry that is available as a PDF file on his website. Sleep briefings was a medical newsletter developed by Dr Shapira in the 1990's directed to educating physicians and dentists about the valuable contribution to health made by recognizing and treating sleep disorders. This led to his becoming the Dental section editor of Sleep and Health Journal and a frequent contributing author. Dr Shapira currently teaches Dental Sleep Medicine to small groups of dentists from around the U.S. who come to his Gurnee office to learn hand on techniques from this recognized expert. Dr Shapira has lectured for Bill Blatchford, America's leading dental consultant and is featured on his Purple Cow DVD Seminar.

Dr Shapira founded I HATE CPAP LLC to bring information about the dangers of sleep apnea to the public and to help patients who do not tolerate CPAP connect patients with Sleep Apnea Dentists. His website http://www.ihatecpap.com is the premiere site on dental sleep medicine and has had millions and millions of hits with patients often spending 30 minutes or more on the site. Every week his staff helps patients from around the country and the world connect with doctors who can improve their lives. Dr Susanne Schwarting a German dentist and Diplomate of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine reported seeing a patient from Zambia that found her after learning about dental sleep medicine on the I HATE CPAP site. Dr Shapira recently had a patient from Hong Kong that arranged to see him while she was in the U.S. Patients interested in finding a sleep apnea dentist anywhere in the world should go to http://www.ihatecpap.com. If we do not have a dentist in your area listed we will attempt to locate one.

In addition to his work on sleep apnea Dr Shapira also has several patents on devices and methods for collection and storage of Stem Cells. His devices allow minimally invasive collection of bone marrow from the hips and other areas of the body. He is working to bring early minimally invasive removal of wisdom teeth into the dental mainstream. Using these techniques allow collection of healthy young adult Stem Cells that can be use to treat disease, regenerate organs and tissues and hopefully on day create a vaccine that prevents, slows or reverse aging.

Dr Shapira does not hate CPAP and neither do the sleep apnea dentists around the country who offer comfortable oral appliance therapy to their patients. They recognize CPAP as an excellent method of treatment for patients who use it. The name of the company evolved because that was the number one comment patients made when they were seeking alternatives to CPAP. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine now recognizes oral appliance therapy as a first line treatment choice for mild to moderate sleep apnea and as an alternative to CPAP for severe apnea when patients do not tolerate CPAP. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine endorses the position of position of American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

The National Sleep Foundation declared in SleepMatters its national Publication that "Oral Appliances are a therapy whose time has come". The American Sleep Apnea Association, the largest patient support group for patients with sleep apnea has also endorsed oral appliances as an alternative to CPAP. Also known as A.W.A.K.E. an acronym for Alert, Well, And Keeping Energetic published an article on the front page of their fall, 2007 newsletter an article titled "Taking a Bite Out of OSA; Oral appliances provide alternative therapy.

Patients with Sleep Apnea who are having problems or questions about their therapy will find the AWAKE group an excellent resource. Dave Hargett is the Chair of the Board of Directors and is a patient who originally formed the group. He has been happily using CPAP since his diagnosis but now recognizes the important part oral appliance therapy plays in overall treatment. The AWAKE group can be contacted at http://www.sleepapnea.org.

Sleep and Health Journal is an excellent reference for more information about sleep or Sleep Apnea. Dr Shapira is the dental editor and a contributing author. It is the largest patient oriented journal covering sleep topics. There are articles about how sleep affects general health and a host of information available only at this site. An article comparing CPAP to oral appliances and an article comparing appliances to surgery can be found at:
http://sleepandhealth.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=130&tid=22

http://sleepandhealth.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=55&tid=22

http://sleepandhealth.com/modules.php?name=News&file=topics&tid=22 has other dental sleep medicine articles

http://www.sleepandhealth.com has information on all aspects of sleep and all back issues are available free on line

In Lake County Dr Shapira practices with his partner Dr Mark Amidei at Delany Dental Care Ltd. where they are known for exquisite dental reconstructions with or without dental implants. They practice Neuromuscular dentistry and treat a wide variety of chronic pain related to jaw function and the neuromuscular system. Dr Shapira has an article in Sleep and Health Journal discussing TMJ disorders and chronic pain.

http://sleepandhealth.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=237&tid=22

Dr Shapira is well known for his treatment of difficult chronic pain and continues to treat TMJ disorder patients in his Gurnee office. Dr Amidei and Dr Shapira have recently started to offer Pure Power Mouthguards that increase strength and balance. The Pure Power Mouthguard is based on principles of Neuromuscular Dentistry which Dr Shapira has practiced for over 25 years. LVI, The Las Vegas Institute bases all of its cosmetic training on these same Neuromuscular principles

Patients wanting to learn more about TMJ disorders, migraines, chronic daily headaches and neuromuscular dentistry or Pure Power Mouthguards can go to www.ihateheadaches.org. Or they can call his office at 1-8-TMJoint.

Dr Ira L Shapira is an author and section editor of Sleep and Health, 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 Schools 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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