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the kind of message that erodes dentists' credibility
below is the kind of marketing i object to from dentists. notice that the description of CPAP is: a "gas mask-like device which forces air into the lungs of apnea suffers through a mask or a nose appliance." contrast that with the description of the oral appliance: "A simple intraoral device."
the dentist goes on to say that CPAP is "uncomfortable," and "noisy." i don't think this language paints a fair portrait of the choice between CPAP and an oral appliance -- it also pits one treatment modality against the other, as if it's one or the other. what do you guys think of this PR?
A simple intraoral device called a TAP 3 appliance may be a more suitable treatment choice for many patients who suffer from sleep apnea than the traditional CPAP device. CPAP is a gas mask-like device which forces air into the lungs of apnea suffers through a mask or a nose appliance. As many as 20 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a potentially deadly disease which ruins the quality of life of those who suffer from it as well as the lives of those around them. People with sleep apnea frequently snore very loudly as well and stop breathing for 10 or more seconds five or more times per hour during their “sleeping” period, rarely achieving the deeper stages of sleep necessary for wellness.
Colleyville dentist Dr. John Vinings has successfully treated hundreds of sleep apnea sufferers with the TAP 3 appliance over the past three years. Dr. Vinings says fewer than 40% of those who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea use the CPAP on a regular basis. Vinings says “the mask is uncomfortable and frequently dislodges when the patient turns to the side in their sleep making it ineffective. Additionally, the machine is noisy and the patient feels air being forced through their mouth and onto their face if the mask doesn’t seal properly.” All this creates a situation which many patients find is impossible to tolerate, even though without treatment, sleep apnea can lead to many other health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, erectile dysfunction in men, and decreased libido in women. People with sleep apnea also have a higher number of automobile accidents than average due to the fact that they do not get restful sleep and fall asleep at the wheel frequently.
There are countless millions of Americans with sleep apnea who remain undiagnosed and untreated. In many cases, this is due to their fear that they will have to sleep each night for the rest of their lives attempting to wear a CPAP. Now, there is an effective alternative worn inside the mouth which will provide an airway which relieves the symptoms of sleep apnea. Dr. Vinings says the TAP 3 is easy to fabricate, more portable than a CPAP, and much more comfortable. Dr. Vinings works with several area physicians who specialize in sleep disorders. Many recommend the TAP 3 as treatment of choice for their patients and send patients directly to Dr. Vinings. Following initial adjustment, Dr. Vinings returns the patient to their sleep doctor for a follow-up sleep study and final adjustment of the TAP 3 appliance to insure maximum effectiveness.
The TAP 3 appliance may be your best choice in treating sleep apnea and enjoying the benefits of improved health and well being.
For more information, please visit www.drvinings.com.
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Views: 931
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jay Polatnick on
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Connie,
In reference to your fibromyalgia, have you ever looked at 'systemic enzymes' to reduce your underlying inflammatory condition ? They are often prescribed in Germany, but are natural and OTC in the U.S. www.zymeessence.com makes the most concentrated form. Further research is available at http://www.systemicenzymetherapy.com/
Jay
Connie B said:My dentist who fits and treats with oral mouth devices for OSA also uses the device. From earlier post- My follow up sleep study was wearing the device and my severe OSA results improved incredibly. My reason for my first sleep study in 1995 was to figure out why my fibromyalgia brain will not let me go to sleep. I have had chronic insomnia for many years. After three days of sleep deprivation I was allowed short cat naps during these catnaps it was discovered I had OSA. Now due to fibro effects, as we have learned that fibro affects the CNS, I have developed central sleep apnea. If I am ever given medications that are very sedating, or have meds for a surgical procedure or treatment etc when I go to sleep I stop breathing. That is why my docs hope that if I ever get to the point I can sleep trough the night with my mouth device maybe I could tolerate wearing the CPAP mask with it for the extra O2 benefit it would provide. Some CFS patients wear nasal O2 at bedtime. My fibro/CFS specialist in Atlanta wanted this prescribed for me but my local sleep docs can’t make the connection that fibro/CFS brains work differently than the average OSA brain so they won’t prescribe it for me. However I am told there are doctors in Nashville who are more familiar with the science or treating fibro/CFS patient’s sleep apnea and they do prescribe nasal O2. Next stop Nashville…
Banyon said:Good to hear about those two dentists!
It would be interesting to know whether any of the many dentists beating the drum about the high effectiveness of oral appliances, will choose an oral appliance or CPAP when they develop sleep apnea. :):):)
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I agree that this is a very poor approach to the subject of OSA. Both CPAP and Bi-PAP, and oral appliances have their good points and their drawbacks. In addition, the best treatment for one patient is not the best treatment for another patient. Each individual patient needs to be evaluated as to which treatment, or combination of treatments will be the most effective and most tolerable for him/her. Intentionally biasing an individual for or against a certain treatment is not in the best interests of the patient. In another discussion on this site, the subject of surgical treatment was being discussed. It seemed that a lot of people spoke in strong opposition to surgical treatment. I was one of the few who spoke for it. I am very happy I had not read the statements against surgical treatment since that was the option I eventually took. (I had to use CPAP until I got other, more immediate medical issues taken care of before I could undergo surgery for my multiple congenital respiratory tract problems and one hereditary issue I developed as an adult that had gone undiagnosed.) My ENT told me that I was an excellent candidate for surgery although I would need several surgeries since I had multiple problems. For me, surgery was the greatest thing (ok, one of the greatest things) that ever happened. (And it was far less painful than my ENT told me it would be.) However, not everyone is a good candidate for the surgeries I had. A patient needs to be evaluated by a good ENT as to what is the best treatment for them. Negative talk like that advertisement is contrary to the best interests of the patient.
Talk against CPAP and Bi-PAP, surgery, and dental appliances should be discouraged. A thorough, unbiased evaluation by a specialist should be encouraged. If the patient is not comfortable with that specialist's recommendation, he/she should seek the opinon of another specialist. CPAP and Bi-PAP can be used without any lasting harmful effects. Surgery causes changes that will last. These changes could be for the better or worse. The patient should consider whether he can live with the possible negative effects should they occur. He/she should also think about how much he/she trusts his/her specialists to make the best recommendations. Dental appliances, as I understand, can cause painful side effects because they, at least in some cases, reposition the jaw. These effects are not well tolerated by everyone.
If uncertain, CPAP or Bi-PAP should be chosen at the outset until the patient can thoroughly evaluate how he/she feels about the possible effects of the other choices. Before I saw my ENT, I had read up on the various treatments. I was frightened by the idea of surgery, not excited about CPAP, and wanted to have a dental appliance. My ENT told me my best option was surgery. CPAP was a very acceptable alternative option (although I still really needed certain surgeries even if I did not choose to have an UPPP.) He told me that a dental appliance was totally unacceptable because I was already had TMJ issues (but since they were not causing me to complain, he did not recommend surgical treatment for them.)
Dr. John Vinings, this is real life we are talking about here, not a television, "reality show" of Fear Tactics. You are using fear tactics to steer people away from methods of treatment that may be more helpful for them, and into a treatment that may be harmful. Dump your advertising that is aimed at lining your pockets at the expense of patients who might very well be better served by other treatments.
Good night, Dr. John Vinings, and go crawl away back into your own little hole.
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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Very well said, Jo. Thanks for your nuanced response here.
Jo E said:I agree that this is a very poor approach to the subject of OSA. Both CPAP and Bi-PAP, and oral appliances have their good points and their drawbacks. In addition, the best treatment for one patient is not the best treatment for another patient. Each individual patient needs to be evaluated as to which treatment, or combination of treatments will be the most effective and most tolerable for him/her. Intentionally biasing an individual for or against a certain treatment is not in the best interests of the patient. In another discussion on this site, the subject of surgical treatment was being discussed. It seemed that a lot of people spoke in strong opposition to surgical treatment. I was one of the few who spoke for it. I am very happy I had not read the statements against surgical treatment since that was the option I eventually took. (I had to use CPAP until I got other, more immediate medical issues taken care of before I could undergo surgery for my multiple congenital respiratory tract problems and one hereditary issue I developed as an adult that had gone undiagnosed.) My ENT told me that I was an excellent candidate for surgery although I would need several surgeries since I had multiple problems. For me, surgery was the greatest thing (ok, one of the greatest things) that ever happened. (And it was far less painful than my ENT told me it would be.) However, not everyone is a good candidate for the surgeries I had. A patient needs to be evaluated by a good ENT as to what is the best treatment for them. Negative talk like that advertisement is contrary to the best interests of the patient.
Talk against CPAP and Bi-PAP, surgery, and dental appliances should be discouraged. A thorough, unbiased evaluation by a specialist should be encouraged. If the patient is not comfortable with that specialist's recommendation, he/she should seek the opinon of another specialist. CPAP and Bi-PAP can be used without any lasting harmful effects. Surgery causes changes that will last. These changes could be for the better or worse. The patient should consider whether he can live with the possible negative effects should they occur. He/she should also think about how much he/she trusts his/her specialists to make the best recommendations. Dental appliances, as I understand, can cause painful side effects because they, at least in some cases, reposition the jaw. These effects are not well tolerated by everyone.
If uncertain, CPAP or Bi-PAP should be chosen at the outset until the patient can thoroughly evaluate how he/she feels about the possible effects of the other choices. Before I saw my ENT, I had read up on the various treatments. I was frightened by the idea of surgery, not excited about CPAP, and wanted to have a dental appliance. My ENT told me my best option was surgery. CPAP was a very acceptable alternative option (although I still really needed certain surgeries even if I did not choose to have an UPPP.) He told me that a dental appliance was totally unacceptable because I was already had TMJ issues (but since they were not causing me to complain, he did not recommend surgical treatment for them.)
Dr. John Vinings, this is real life we are talking about here, not a television, "reality show" of Fear Tactics. You are using fear tactics to steer people away from methods of treatment that may be more helpful for them, and into a treatment that may be harmful. Dump your advertising that is aimed at lining your pockets at the expense of patients who might very well be better served by other treatments.
Good night, Dr. John Vinings, and go crawl away back into your own little hole.
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I have a similar problem, but i need braces and then jaw surgery. Did you have insurance to cover the braces? That's what I need. If you did, I'd love to know who the insurance company is.
Thanks, Mary
Gerard Perri said:My experience with CPAP was terrible. For some reason, I was swallowing air, waking up with a distended stomach and in such pain that I was unable to walk until the "gas passed". What was most disturbing was that the doctors were unable to determine why this was occurring. I stopped using CPAP with no other alternative.
I then heard an ad for a dentist who had an appliance for sleep apnea. I saw him, got fitted and it worked for me. I then when to an orthodontist who used braces to move my upper jaw into an advanced location. I am happy to say that this procedure worked for me. I sleep better, rarely have apnea episode and actual dream!
I wish it were that simple for everyone who suffers from sleep apnea.
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Permalink Reply by Connie B on
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I am again one of the lucky ones that have a fitted oral device that works and I adapted to it quickly because there was next to no discomfort while wearing it a little ambsol on my gums a couple of nights and I was use to the device. The reason I am posting again is that I was talking to my brother in law about my device and he told me about a brand new CPAP mask that does not cover as much of the nose is softer and gives you more freedom in position of sleep. It is quieter and smaller as well. He is having allot better success with this CPAP unit than any other especially with no straps over his head. So for people out there who really had a tough time with the mask before make an appointment and ask for the new masks that are barely there. Sorry that I don't have a name or number he did not know and he works on a nuclear submarine so not easy to get in contact with. But good luck there is hope.
Mary Regan said:I have a similar problem, but i need braces and then jaw surgery. Did you have insurance to cover the braces? That's what I need. If you did, I'd love to know who the insurance company is.
Thanks, Mary
Gerard Perri said:My experience with CPAP was terrible. For some reason, I was swallowing air, waking up with a distended stomach and in such pain that I was unable to walk until the "gas passed". What was most disturbing was that the doctors were unable to determine why this was occurring. I stopped using CPAP with no other alternative.
I then heard an ad for a dentist who had an appliance for sleep apnea. I saw him, got fitted and it worked for me. I then when to an orthodontist who used braces to move my upper jaw into an advanced location. I am happy to say that this procedure worked for me. I sleep better, rarely have apnea episode and actual dream!
I wish it were that simple for everyone who suffers from sleep apnea.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Z on
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Connie, realizing that your brother is not easy to get in touch with, if you could, in the future, come up with the name of the mask he is using and posting it, I'm sure the information would be invaluable.
I'm sure treatment on a Nuclear Sub carries its own complications- I can't imagine the implications of pressure at the depths to which those subs go, so I'm sure his story of the challenges of treatment in that environment would be a great interest to more than me.
Thanks,
Mary Z.
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He works on a nuclear sub? Is he in the navy? My son served two enlistments in the Iowa Army National Guard before he was diagnosed with OSA. Recently, he expressed an interest in serving another enlistment in the Guard. He was told that he could not re-enlist unless he had a UPPP to treat his OSA (he is a goo candidate for UPPP just as I was). The guard will not take anyone with a diagnosed case of OSA. Once he is on a heath insurance program that will pay for the surgery, he will be having it and re-enlisting in the IARNG.
Connie B said:I am again one of the lucky ones that have a fitted oral device that works and I adapted to it quickly because there was next to no discomfort while wearing it a little ambsol on my gums a couple of nights and I was use to the device. The reason I am posting again is that I was talking to my brother in law about my device and he told me about a brand new CPAP mask that does not cover as much of the nose is softer and gives you more freedom in position of sleep. It is quieter and smaller as well. He is having allot better success with this CPAP unit than any other especially with no straps over his head. So for people out there who really had a tough time with the mask before make an appointment and ask for the new masks that are barely there. Sorry that I don't have a name or number he did not know and he works on a nuclear submarine so not easy to get in contact with. But good luck there is hope.
Mary Regan said:I have a similar problem, but i need braces and then jaw surgery. Did you have insurance to cover the braces? That's what I need. If you did, I'd love to know who the insurance company is.
Thanks, Mary
Gerard Perri said:My experience with CPAP was terrible. For some reason, I was swallowing air, waking up with a distended stomach and in such pain that I was unable to walk until the "gas passed". What was most disturbing was that the doctors were unable to determine why this was occurring. I stopped using CPAP with no other alternative.
I then heard an ad for a dentist who had an appliance for sleep apnea. I saw him, got fitted and it worked for me. I then when to an orthodontist who used braces to move my upper jaw into an advanced location. I am happy to say that this procedure worked for me. I sleep better, rarely have apnea episode and actual dream!
I wish it were that simple for everyone who suffers from sleep apnea.
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