I recently had a patient who came in for oral appliance therapy, a CPAP alternative treatment for the condition of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). I could not help but notice her red face. Later I found out that what I thought was a form of rosacea, was a reaction to her CPAP mask.

Because I have quite a few patients that use both CPAP and oral appliances (intermittently), here is a list of some of the more common reasons for redness after wearing the CPAP device. Increases levels of adult acne are also not uncommon with CPAP usage.

Some of these reasons for redness or increased levels of acne include:

• Over tightening of the mask straps.
• Not cleaning the mask properly.
• Sensitivity to the mask cleaning products.
• Sensitivity to silicone or the mask material itself.
• Poor fitting mask needing replacement.
• Mask needing replacement.
• Pressure points caused by poor mask fit.
• Moisture accumulation between the mask and the skin.
• Problem with skin products under the mask..

Here are some possible solutions based on the problems above:

• Discuss fit of your current mask with your healthcare professional.
• Review home care-cleaning instructions.
• Consider nasal pillows interphase.
• Consider mask liners or cheek mask liners.
• Don’t over tighten the straps of your CPAP mask.
• Consider discussing problems with others of an A.W.A.K.E. apnea support group.
• Investigate chemical sensitivity of cleaning products.
• Consider oral appliance therapy, an alternative to CPAP.
• Limit skin products under mask.
• Consider mask liners.

Redness and acne that results with the use of CPAP mask can become a real problem for many patients. Because apnea is a life-altering condition that needs to be treated, it’s important to find the root of the cause and attempt to work through it.

Here are some references that many help:

• Mask liners–RemZZZs for over the counter purchase
• AWAKE support group -  http://www.sleepapnea.org/support/a.w.a.k.e.-network-map.html

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville, has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy in Naperville, Lisle, Aurora, Bolingbrook and surrounding Chicago suburbs. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630) 369-5508.

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For the past fifteen years,  we have been working with patients who suffer from snoring and sleep apnea. We find it a privilege to improve their quality of lives and sleep with oral devices that help them reach peaceful sleep. These oral devices are small, convenient and fit in the palm of your hand, far easier to deal with than previous failed attempts of CPAP therapy (often prescribed for snoring and apnea patients). Simply, these devices save lives.

One of the obstacles of moving forward with oral appliance therapy that we often hear from our newer patients includes cost and payments. So here are a few facts we put together.

• In most cases,  medical insurance reimburses a large portion of the service and device if the claim is properly handled.

• If insurance should not cover your situation, let’s do the math. If you consider the wide range of oral devices for snoring and apnea, let’s choose as a sample to use a longer lasting high quality custom device. A new custom type quality mouth device for snoring and apnea can last 3 years and usually much longer. (One of my patients who came in yesterday brought in his 10 year old oral appliance, and it is still in great shape!)  If you wore your oral device every night for 3 years, it would only cost you $2.47 a night.  If you compare that to a tall cup of Starbuck’s coffee which averages $3.00, that is 53 cents more a day to drink coffee than to wear a much needed, life saving device.

• Ask us if there is a temporary option using a lower quality and not as highly custom type device for you. For some patients,  this device can give some relief but we still recommend working with a dentist trained and willing to help you with this.  Side effects for these devices are often worse than  FDA approved adjustable custom devices.

Let us look at some of the possible outcomes with the lack of treatment in relation to obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. There are thousands of dollars of cost that often accompany these conditions.

• High Blood Pressure
• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Morning Headaches that last all day.
• Sexual Dysfunction
• Mood Changes
• Relationship strains
• Higher traveling expenses (separate rooms)

Consider this: An oral appliance last years and profoundly change the quality of your life, especially if you have already attempted CPAP therapy. Make sleep a number one priority in your life! Peaceful, restful nights can add years to your life.

Dr. Sosenko is a general dentist and Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. She offers state-of-the-art snoring and apnea patients relief through professional oral appliance therapy. She may be contacted at www.TiredofSnoring.com or call 630.369.5508.

Hi this is Mary Ellen and I am going to review the tip of the week for dental sleep medicine.

This is a morning aligner, or a repositioner, or a retainer. It can be called different names by different providers of oral appliance therapy. Using these devices is one of the most important things I can talk to you about today that involves oral appliance therapy. For those patients who are wearing an oral appliance for snoring and apnea, use a custom  morning repositioner like this in the morning after you take out your appliance to help prevent potential side effects of your bite from changing.  Try to slowly adjust your bite into this device.  After it is inserted, keep it on your teeth anywhere from 5 minutes to 25 minutes or longer depending on what your teeth need. Take it out after five minutes and “test” your bite. If your bite does not feel ‘regular’ or where it needs to be, for normal chewing put it back into your mouth and adjust your bite to fit the pattern of the device again. Hold it there with moderate pressure until your teeth go back to their normal position that you are used to chewing.  After it is removed just briefly brush the morning aligner and place along with your oral appliance into the container box leaving the lid open and you are good to go. Our tip of the day, use a morning aligner to help prevent side effects from the use of oral appliance therapy for snoring and apnea.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630)369-5508.

(As seen in Naperville Glancer, April 2013 edition)

“I feel like myself again!” a patient happily blurted out at a recent visit to our practice. Was she talking about a recent smile makeover? Or possibly a re-energized feeling from a new exercise program? Maybe a new healthy eating plan has rejuvenated her? No, she was able to sleep well again, for the first time in over a decade!

Knowing she had snoring issues, Elaine was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that caused pausing or dips in breathing throughout the night during sleep.  In many cases sleep apnea can cause restless sleep, poor quality of sleep and an entire list of other problems such as:

• Lack of energy
• Lock of focus
• Depression-like symptoms
• Weight gain
• High blood pressure
• Personality changes
• Increase the chance of stroke and heart attacks

Unfortunately, Elaine could not get accustomed to wearing an air pressure device (CPAP) that is often used to treat OSA patients.  Years of not treating her condition took a real toll on her emotional well-being. She never felt rested, and often even depressed.

Luckily her physician referred her to us, for the treatment of oral appliance therapy, a CPAP alternative. An oral appliance proved to be a success for her.  In as little as a week after wearing an oral appliance, she was able to sleep well for the first time in years. 

And soon afterwards, she notices how much better she felt throughout the day.

Whether it be snoring, obstructive sleep apnea a, or one of the many other sleeping disorders, lack of good quality of sleep can have devastating effect. If you are interested in regaining your ‘youthful’ self-back and sleep well again, discuss your symptoms with your physician. It may lead to a youthful, more energetic you!

Dr. Sosenko is a general dentist and Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.  She offers state-of-the-art snoring and apnea patients relief through professional oral appliance therapy. She may be contacted at www.TiredofSnoring.com or call 630.369.5508.

The topic at the latest NTSB (National Transportation and Safety Board) annual conference was about the relationship between fatigue and accidents.

The NTSB has investigated accidents for decades now and they have identified fatigue as the cause or a contributing factor in every mode of transportation.

The lack of recuperative sleep affects your decision-making process, along with judgment, memory and reaction time.  When you do not get enough sleep, you are much more likely to have uncontrollable cognitive lapses or microsleeps which may allow you to doze off for a very short period.  Tragically, this is a critically dangerous environment for train operators, ship, and airplane or highway vehicles.  Just a few seconds can mean the difference between life and death.  A good night sleep is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for a trip, operate a vehicle, or simple errands.

Unfortunately, people do drive drowsy.  If you recognize you are drowsy while driving, pull over, take a nap, and get some fresh air and a cup of coffee.  Do not try to power through it because it could cost  your life and the life of other people on the road.  We lose 30,000 people a year in traffic accidents and some of those fatalities are associated with drowsy driving.  Getting behind the wheel of an automobile is one of the most dangerous places we can be.  Highway fatalities are the fourth leading cause of death in our country.

Everyone is at risk of fatigue.  People who do shift work with varying times and people with sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are even more at risk.  Last year one out of four pilots and train operators complained that their performance is affected at least one time a week from sleepiness.

Sleep apnea affects millions of people in the United States.  It not only affects the person with apnea, but also their bed partner and family.  Consequences are very serious, including the risk of stroke and heart attack. If you feel you may be at risk for a sleep disorder, talk to your primary care physician or go to our website for more information.

Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois, a premiere snoring and apnea treatment center in Naperville has been providing the CPAP alternative treatment of oral appliance therapy for over 15 years successfully. We are extremely passionate in helping individuals that have been struggling with CPAP therapy in Naperville, Wheaton, Aurora, Bolingbrook and surrounding Chicago suburbs. For more information on this physician recommended treatment option, visit www.TiredOfSnoring.com or call us at (630)369-5508.