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Downtown Denver Sleep Solutions Blog

What Is Sleep Apnea?

September 19, 2013

Filed under: Denver Sleep Apnea Treatment — Tags: , , , , , , , , — cosleepap @ 7:05 am

Do you routinely feel tired during the day, even after going to bed early the night before? Have others noticed that you seem stressed or moody? All three of these are signs that you may be struggling with interrupted sleep as a result of sleep apnea.
Patients with this underdiagnosed condition stop breathing for 10 or more seconds during sleep. As a result, the brain sends out a signal waking them up to take a breath. Not every sleep apneapatient will wake up all the way, though; some only move to a lighter stage of sleep, which explains how a sleep apnea patient may be unaware of his or her problem.
In many cases, sleep apnea is caused by obstruction. This type is known specifically as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, orOSAS. What causes the obstruction? The most common causes include the size of the patient’s airway passages, swelling, and the position of the tongue.
After the sleep apnea patient has returned to sleep, the cycle of sleeping and waking will continue throughout the night, leading to the drowsiness, stress, and moodiness we mentioned above. Sleep apnea can also make it difficult to concentrate and cause memory loss or accidents at home, work, or behind the wheel. If left untreated, it may also cause high blood pressure, heart problems, and premature death.
But thankfully, sleep apnea is treatable. As a locally and internationally recognized dentist, Dr. Gary M. Radz can provide effective relief at his Denver dental office. CPAP is a common and universally recognized treatment, but custom-made oral sleep appliances are quickly becoming the new standard for care.
Are you worried that you might be struggling with sleep apnea?Dr. Radz of Denver can help. Call us today for an appointment. We serve patients from Inglewood, Aurora, Lakewood,Greenwood Village, Centennial, and all surrounding areas.

Learn More about Cosmetic Dentistry with Dr. Gary Radz

August 13, 2013

Filed under: Cosmetic Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , — cosleepap @ 7:10 am

Every day, all around the world, dentists are changing the lives of their patients with cosmetic dentistry. And among all the cosmetic services used by dentists, porcelain veneers are one of the most popular. With porcelain veneers, doctors have a way of improving the appearance of a patient’s front teeth, helping them overcome problems like staining, cracks, chips, or slight misalignment.
Because placing porcelain veneers is an art, though, dentists who are new to cosmetic dentistry might need some help learning how to use this or any other cosmetic service. That’s where you’ll want to turn to Dr. Gary Radz. As a practicing Colorado dentist with years of experience, Dr. Radz has made teaching others his mission. Every year, Dr. Radz gives 35-40 presentations all across country, the goal of which is to help dentists become better at cosmetic care.
Do you want to learn more about cosmetic dentistry? Find out where Dr. Radz will be teaching next by looking at his schedule. You can also read about the different kinds of classes he offers by clicking here. And if you have questions or want to find out how you can be a student in one of Dr. Radz’s upcoming classes, give us a call.
Helping dentists provide better care is what we’re all about.

Why Do Dentists Treat Sleep Apnea?

April 30, 2013

Filed under: Denver Sleep Apnea Treatment,Denver Snoring Treatment — cosleepap @ 6:25 pm

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that affects a wide range of people at some point in their lives. The risks of sleep apnea include things as seemingly inconsequential as snoring and major health threats such as tumor growth and increased cancer rates. Many people are surprised, therefore, to learn that dentists are the professionals who usually help patients deal with this health issue. There are many good reasons, though, for dentists to treat sleep apnea rather than primary physicians or doctors of internal medicine.
Dentists and Apnea
There are many forms of treatment for this condition. A popular and less complicated procedure involves the use of an oral appliance. Patients wear them as they sleep to avoid the disturbance of their breathing rhythm. Dentists are the best candidates for fabricating and teaching their patients to apply these oral appliances for several reasons.

  • The first support for dentists as leaders in this treatment is their proximity to all the required materials. As a matter of routine, these professionals keep most or all of the required materials in their offices because they have a variety of uses in dentistry. Furthermore, the techniques that they use in developing other appliances in their regular practice are similar to those needed to fabricate the oral appliance for apnea.
  • Dentists also benefit from their proximity to their patients. Most people see their dentist twice a year but see their doctors less often. There are many men, for example, who will not miss dentist’s appointments but only go to doctors when they are ill.
  • This gives dentists the familiarity with their patients to discuss the issues and check up on them. They can screen their patients for the problem and counsel them about solutions.
  • Much of the advantage in seeing dental professionals for this treatment lies in their training. Dentists receive a lot of training about the TMJ joint in their education. Understanding this joint is critical for correct use of the appliance.
  • Overall, dentists have the best training and available materials to fashion exactly what their patients need. They have access to intimate details about their patients’ jaws and throats as well. Everything about this device and the problem it treats falls under the skills and practices of dentistry.
  • Furthermore, the involvement of dentists in this issue is taken for granted by the industries that manufacture the parts that make up oral appliances. They will only fill a prescription for a sleep apnea device when it is written by a dentist. Many patients do not wear their CPAP machines, but tolerate oral appliances, which is why a dentist oversees treatment.

The prominence of dentists in this regard is a given. In most states, in fact, it is a matter of law which states that only dentists will engage in these treatments. Anyone else presuming to fashion or apply these devices would be in violation of state law.
Don’t forget that Dr. Radz treats sleep apnea. The easy treatment for moderate sleep apnea can change your life. If you think you, or someone else you know has sleep apnea in Denver or Colorado – setup a consultation today.

Quiet Night, Better Sleep

March 12, 2013

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — cosleepap @ 1:47 am

There is more to snoring than just the noise. Snoring only appears to a problem for the bed partner who has to listen to it all night long, after all a good snorer can crank out about 90 decibels which is comparable to a train whistle at 500 feet. That’s loud!
It is usually the one that has to listen to the snoring that forces some kind of solution. Everyone wants a good night sleep in order to be healthier and happier. Ironically, it is the snorer who could be in mortal danger. What starts out as a problem for me, the bed partner, ends up being a serious problem for the one doing the snoring.
Patients ask me what the options are to stop snoring. My answer is, “Well, that depends because no two people are alike.” Snoring can be the sign of some very serious medical issues not to be taken lightly. Like with any medical condition, the serious issues should not be overlooked.
Here is why it is confusing:

  • A person who snores may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
  • A person with OSA might not snore so they go undiagnosed which is dangerous.
  • Apnea comes in several forms in several stages of sleep. One form of apnea is created by the brain and not nasal obstruction.
  • It can create dangerous problems with the heart during sleep.
  • It can cause Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD).
  • It can cause the patient to stop breathing in such a manner that the oxygen saturation of the blood can go down to very serious levels.

Common Snoring Traits 
People who snore and those who have apnea can have the following common physical traits:

  • Overweight
  • Large Necks
  • Big Tongues
  • Wear on Lower Teeth
  • GERD
  • Extreme day time sleepiness

Diagnosis
Apnea is a medical problem and should be treated as such. The first step in treatment is getting a proper diagnosis which can only be done with a formal sleep study and under the guidance of a sleep physician.
The diagnosis is broken up into the following:

  • Snores only
  • Mild, Moderate or Severe Apnea

Treatment
In the past, the gold standard was the CPAP which is the mask that fits over the nose and is hooked up to a air machine. It is still the standard for severe apnea. The problem with the CPAP is that not everyone can or will wear one.
Recently, the FDA has recognized that certain oral devices, which can only be made by dentists, can and do stop snoring for the mild and moderate apnics. This reality has quite literally forced MD’s and dentist to work together for the betterment of their patient’s health and that is a great thing.
So, if you or your loved one snores, it can be a serious issue so talk to Dr. Radz and your MD about your concerns.
Thanks to Dr. Mack Lee for this contribution.

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