At Think Better Life – I Hate CPAP, we believe in offering patients only the most modern technology and state-of-the-art equipment to help you get a good night's rest. Our dentists stay current on the latest techniques and treatments in the field through continuing education, research and following up-to-date literature.
We offer patients every available appliance treatment option and can provide any oral appliance manufactured to help sleep apnea patients, including the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP), Telescopic Herbst, Somnomed MAS appliance, and more. We offer a variety of treatments and behavioral therapy to help patients conquer the effects of sleep apnea and to get their lives back.
Our Sleep Apnea Blog
Sleep Apnea Blog, moderated by Dr. Shapira
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The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that at least 100,000 accidents caused by drowsy drivers are reported to police each year! Snoring and sleep apnea may be diagnosed at a sleep center and can be treated by many methods. One of the most comfortable and best-tolerated treatments is a dental appliance. Other treatments include CPAP and various surgical options.
Patients with pure Central Sleep Apnea are best treated with CPAP and are not good candidates for appliance therapy. They are usually best treated by neurologist sleep specialists.
Popular Oral Appliances
Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP)
The TAP is a device used to assist sleep apnea patients by opening the airway and allowing oxygen to pass through the throat without obstruction. By using the principle of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the TAP device allows wearers to avoid the symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring and stopped breathing. Similar to a mouthguard, the TAP device holds the lower jaw forward to prevent collapse of the airway and to ensure continuous breathing. This oral appliance is custom-fitted to each patient's mouth proportions for maximum comfort. The TAP appliance is also adjustable and has successfully treated apnea for 96% of users!
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure appliance, or CPAP, is considered the "gold standard" of treatment for patients with sleep apnea. Unfortunately, the majority of patients do not tolerate treatment with research showing only 23-45% of patients showing success. The sleep apnea patient must wear a specially designed mask that uses pressure to send a small amount of air flowing through the nasal passages. The influx of air keeps the throat from collapsing during sleep and allows the patient to breathe freely without worry of episodes of nonbreathing. Some CPAP devices also help the patient minimize other effects of apnea, such as nasal dryness, headaches and irritated eyes.
Sleep Apnea Organizations
American Sleep Apnea Association
1424 K. Street Suite 302
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 1 (202) 293-3650
Fax: 1 (202) 293-3536
www.sleepapnea.org
National Sleep Foundation
1522 K. St. NW, Ste#500
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 1 (202) 347-3471
Fax: 1 (202) 347-3471
www.sleepfoundation.org
American Lung Association
1740 Broadway
New York , NY 10019-4374
Phone: 1 (800) 586-4872
Fax: 1 (212) 315-8870
www.lungusa.org
American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
1001 Warrenville Rd.
Suite 175
Lisle, IL 60532
Phone: 1 (630) 686-9875
Fax: 1 (630) 686-9876
www.aadsm.org
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
One Westbrook Corporate Center
Suite # 920
Westchester, IL 60154
Phone: 1 (708) 492-0930
Fax: 1 (708) 492-0943
www.AASMnet.org
National Library of Medicine
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
National Center on Sleep Disorders Research
Two Rockledge Center, Ste # 7024
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892-7902
Phone: 1(301) 435-0199
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr
Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation
www.rls.org
Narcolepsy Network, Inc.
www.narcolepsynetwork.org
Quiet Sleep
www.quietsleep.com
Talk About Sleep
www.talkaboutsleep.com
For assistance from a member of our team, please call 1-847-533-8313 today. Dr. Shapira and the team at Think Better Life serve patients across the country and nationwide from our office in the Chicago area.
