Snoring and Sleep Apnea

• Do you miss sleeping with your spouse or significant other?
• Is someone in your family forced to sleep on the sofa or another room because of loud snoring?
• Are you tired of not getting a restful night’s sleep?
• Do you have unresolved medical conditions due to lack of healthy sleep?
• Is someone’s snoring ruining your good sleep? night after night?
• Are you or a family member frustrated with struggling to wear a CPAP for sleep apnea?
• Have you experienced waking up gasping or air, or feeling like you have been choking while asleep?
• Does your partner say you stop breathing when you are asleep?
• Has someone told you that you clench or grind your teeth, or that you have TMJ problems?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you or a family member may be one of the more than  40 million Americans who is not getting a good night's sleep due to Sleep Apnea, Snoring, or other Sleep Disorder problems.

The good news is that there is a new dental alternative now available in Bakersfield to wearing a breathing mask (CPAP), or having complicated surgery, to treat your nighttime breathing problems. Read further to discover how Snoring and Sleep Apnea can be seriously eroding your life and your health, and how a specific Dental Appliance can reverse these conditions quickly and comfortably.

Based on the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, Americans are not receiving the benefits of new findings on sleep disorders. Over 90% of those affected remain undiagnosed, largely because health professionals have not been updated about Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation.

Sleep Disorders are far more common, and far more serious, than most people realize:

• It is estimated that over 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders.
• Most patients, at least 80%, with sleep disorders go undiagnosed and untreated.
• Untreated sleep disorders contribute to severe health problems including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, sudden fatal heart attack, impotence, depression, stroke, diabetes complications, and many more.
• Sleep disorders can affect the entire family by disrupting everybody’s sleep.
• Snoring is more than annoying - it is a major indicator of the more serious sleep breathing problem of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

There are many types of Sleep Disorders that many adults (and a surprising number of children and teenagers) suffer from:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea - a potentially life threatening condition, is one of the most under-diagnosed sleep disorders. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (also known as OSA) - occurs when air cannot flow freely to the lungs due to airway blockage. This results in Oxygen Starvation to the brain, heart, and the entire body hour after hour, night after night. This condition does not cure itself, even with weight loss.
• Narcolepsy - causes excessive drowsiness and a tendency to fall asleep at inappropriate times such as while eating, talking, or driving. Some individuals also experience sudden muscle weakness usually brought on by emotions such as laughter and anger.
• Insomnia - inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.
• Sleep/ Wake Cycle Disorders - often occurs in individuals who keep irregular hours such as shift workers and people who travel a great deal.
• Restless Legs Syndrome - characterized by an unpleasant "crawling" sensation in the limbs.
• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder - involves repetitive movements during sleep, usually of the lower limbs. Often seen as brief muscle twitching or jerking movements, or an upward flexing of the feet.

Now there is a new FDA-approved alternative to CPAP for treating Sleep Apnea and Snoring.  It's called Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT), and medical research shows that it can be as effective as CPAP for many people.  We are excited to provide this advanced dental treatment for Sleep Apnea patients in Bakersfield and surrounding communities.

If you are already diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, there is a good chance that Oral Appliance Therapy was not mentioned as one of your treatment options. With the field of dental sleep medicine growing rapidly, many physicians and sleep labs are not aware of this new dental therapy and how well it works for so many people.

FDA-approved Oral Appliance Therapy has existed for over 20 years and is very well researched. Most importantly, as of 2006, new guidelines have been established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  These guidelines now recommend Oral Appliance Therapy as the first treatment option for patients with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and the best option for patients who are unable to successfully use CPAP. These Custom-made, FDA-approved Oral Devices (they look similar to an orthodontic appliance but work to prevent the airway from blocking up) are also extremely effective for stopping annoying snoring problems.

How do I know if I have Sleep Apnea?

Lack of breathing and oxygen while we are sleeping affects the whole body.  It makes sense, then, that there are all kinds of signs or symptoms of Sleep Apnea:

   Excessive Daytime Sleepiness-Do you simply run out of energy after lunch.

   Poor, unrefreshing sleep-How often do you wake up as tired as when you went to bed?

   Memory problems or Personality changes-Disturbed sleep can cause these.

   Nocturia-Getting up more than twice a night to go to the bathroom.

   History of Heart Disease, Heart Attack, Stroke, and High Blood Pressure

   Diabetes-Over 50% of people with diabetes have Sleep Apnea.

   Waking up gasping for air, or Stopping Breathing, while sleeping

   Headaches in the Morning-Lack of oxygen can cause this.

   TMJ and Teeth-Grinding Problems-These are conclusively linked to Sleep Apnea.

   Depression and Emotional Conditions-Often go hand-in-hand with Apnea.

   Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia

   Snoring-Not to be ignored, this is a major sign of a partially blocked airway ready to close completely.

This is only a partial list of things that clue people in to having Sleep Apnea.  What it means is that Sleep Apnea can cause or worsen almost every health problem that someone can have.

If you, a family member, or friend has some or all of these symptoms, be sure they do something about it!  Call us today here in our Bakersfield Dental Office to learn more.  We are proud to be the leading Bakersfield Dentist treating sleep apnea patients!

Request Your FREE Special Report:

Want to know more about how you and your family can get a healthy, more refreshing full night's sleep again by eliminating someone's Snoring or Sleep Apnea? Then there is good news for you - we have written a special FREE Report, "Solve Your Snoring and Sleep Apnea Without CPAP or Surgery!" It has the latest information about these serious health conditions caused by Sleep Apnea, and how an Oral Appliance can help you Breath Better, Sleep Better, and Live Better!

It's easy to get your copy of this no-cost, no-obligation Special Report. Simply call our office at (661) 631-5580 and leave your name and address. We'll rush this special report full of important information to you right away!


Schedule a Consultation to see how an Oral Appliance can stop Sleep Apnea or Snoring:

For those who are struggling with Sleep Apnea or Snoring, are frustrated with using a CPAP, or have a family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker who has these problems, we offer a no-obligation, How You Can Stop Snoring and Sleep Apnea Without CPAP or Surgery Consultation.

Call our office TODAY in Bakersfield at (661) 631-5580 to schedule this highly informative visit for you or a family member. Find out how an Oral Appliance will work for you!


PS - One of Dr. Armstrong's goals is to increase the awareness in the medical community of this comfortable and effective Oral Appliance treatment option. If you would like us to send information regarding Oral Appliance Therapy to your physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, or other health care professional, please give us their name and address and we will be happy to send them a copy of our Health Care Professional's Guide to Dental Sleep Medicine.