Conquer Snoring Sleep Apnea & Fatigue

with a comfortable oral appliance

Join us for a Free Seminar & Screening

Seminar Info:
Hult Health
Center Peoria
Thu. Jan. 12th @ 6pm

Presenter
Rod Willey DDS, D’ACSDD
Illinois Institute of
Dental Sleep Medicine

Discussion Topics

• Do Oral Appliances STOP Snoring?
• Can Headaches be related to Sleep Apnea?
• Health Risks of Sleep Apnea
• Are you a candidate for oral appliance therapy?
• Medical Insurance & Medicare Coverage for Oral Appliances

Register for the Seminar Click Here

“I guess I learned to adapt to the constant fatigue,” says Sam.  “Every Wednesday we would have a meeting, and I would doze off in the middle of the meeting,” he continued.  “Somehow I would still answer the questions my manager asked, but had no recollection of doing so.”

Sam’s snoring got so bad, his wife had to sleep in another room.  “Our pet parrot would even mimic the sound of my snoring, but on a much louder note,” says Sam.

“When Sam would struggle to breathe at night, it really worried me,” his wife says.  “He would even doze off while driving, which really scared me.”

With the advice of his physician, Sam decided to have an overnight sleep test.  The results confirmed that he had severe sleep apnea and stopped breathing over 60 times an hour.

Sam’s physician suggested that he try Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) to treat his sleep apnea.

“I always felt tense when sleeping with the CPAP machine, and could never relax,” says Sam.  “The pressure of the CPAP made it hard to breath. I never felt like it was that sanitary either when I would get sick.

“When I complained to my wife about the CPAP, she thought I wasn’t giving it a chance, so I said she should try it on,” he says.  “She put it on, but only lasted 15 seconds or so, and admitted that it was pretty difficult to wear.”

After 3 months of battling with the CPAP, Sam knew he needed something else.  “Because I had a deviated septum, my physician said I could try a surgery to remove the uvula in the back of my throat and move my soft palate forward.   The surgery sounded awful, and I decided against it,” says Sam.

“My blood pressure was out of control, even with continual increases in my medication,” says Sam.  Sam’s physician referred him to a cardiologist who recommended he see Dr. Rod Willey, of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine for a dental sleep appliance since he couldn’t wear the CPAP.

“Within the first month of using the dental appliance I noticed a huge difference in my energy levels and quality of life!” he says.  “My wife is so happy because I don’t fall asleep immediately after dinner,” he continues.  “We can actually enjoy spending some time together.”

“I know both of my brothers have sleep apnea, as well as some of my kids,” says Sam.  “It really concerns me, because I know just how serious sleep apnea can be.  Both of my parents died from heart problems at an early age, and I suspect they had sleep apnea too,” he continues.  “I have told my family about the great results I have received from the appliance, and hope they can experience the same!

Oral Appliance therapy is covered by most medical insurances and Medicare.  For more information on oral appliance therapy contact Dr. Rod Willey at the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine. As a general dentist, with a Diplomate from the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines, Dr. Willey has limited his practice to the treatment of snoring, sleep apnea, and TMJ Disorders with oral appliance therapy. To contact them call 309-228-4038 or email them at info@illinoissleepdoc.com.

Q: When did you discover you had a sleep problem?

Don: Thirty-five years ago I recognized that I had a sleep problem. I didn’t realize the seriousness of the condition until much later though.  I was tired all the time but had to push through because of work.

Q: What symptoms were you experiencing from Sleep Apnea?

Don:  I snored a lot and it kept my wife up at night.  We’ve been married for 48 years and she had to put up with my snoring for most of that time.  I would wake up tired after a full night’s sleep and wonder why I could never feel rested.

Q: What treatments did you try for Sleep Apnea?

Don: After discovering I had Sleep Apnea, my physician suggested I try a surgery to fix the problem.  In 1993 I had surgery to remove tissue from my tongue and throat to help the sleep apnea.  It was an extremely difficult and painful surgery and it only worked for 1-2 years at most.  My doctor then suggested I try the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), which did work, but was an incredible inconvenience.  I didn’t like wearing the CPAP and never could keep the mask on at night.  I tried a number of different masks and none of them seemed to work and they were costing a lot of money.  The noise of the CPAP machine was keeping my wife up at night too.

The CPAP was also a real hassle when it came to traveling.  My job required me to travel overseas a lot, and when I would take my CPAP with me I would always get stopped by security. I knew there had to be something better for me.

Q: Why did you choose oral appliance therapy?

Don:  I had read an article in a magazine on a dental device that treated snoring and sleep apnea and thought, “What do I have to lose?”  It was my last ditch chance at decent sleep!  My bride needed relief just as much as I did.

Q: What difference has oral appliance therapy made in your life?

Don:  The first night I used the appliance I never dreamed that I would sleep so well! I slept the first night without snoring, gasping in the night for air, or smacks on the head from my wife trying to stop my snoring.  It was absolutely marvelous!

The dental device has made a huge difference in my life.  I have better health, more resilience, energy, and I think I play better golf too

My bride and I have been married for over 48 years.  She put up with my apnea for most of that time.  Our relationship is much better now that I no longer wear a CPAP at night or suffer from sleep apnea.  The oral appliance is just fantastic!

For more information on oral appliance therapy contact Dr. Rod Willey at the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine. As a general dentist, Dr. Willey focuses his practice on treatment for snoring, sleep apnea, and TMD with oral appliance therapy. To contact them call 309-228-4038 or email them at info@illinoissleepdoc.com.

Join us for a free public seminar on oral sleep appliances for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.  The seminar will be held at Five Points in Washington Illinois.  Read below for additional information and to register for the event.

Register for the Seminar Now

Dental treatments for headaches are highly effective and are beginning to gain credibility within medical circles.   So much credibility, in fact, that one of the nation’s largest headache groups, the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, recognized dentistry’s role in treating headache and facial pain.

Dr. Bill Costaras of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine has seen a significant percentage of his patient’s benefit from a dental treatment for their headaches.  “I have many patients who come to me complaining of headaches, jaw and facial pain as well as pain in the ears, never realizing that their pain was caused by a misalignment in their jaw,” says Costaras.

Tension Headaches Linked to Jaw

It is believed that 45 million Americans have disabling, chronic headaches, and the economic costs due to job absenteeism, lost production, and medical expenses are estimated to be as high as $50 billion annually.

Approximately 35 million also suffer from TMJ problems known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), caused by an imbalanced bite.  When the joint causes pressure to be put on the nerves, muscles, and blood vessels that pass near the head, pain can result.  “If you suffer from continual headaches or migraines, especially first thing in the morning, pain behind your eyes, jaw clenching or teeth grinding, sinus pains and pains in the neck or shoulders, you should consider visiting your dentist, as well as a doctor, as soon as possible,” says Costaras.

Many people have imperfect dental occlusion yet never show symptoms as they adjust to their problem.  For those who do suffer, teeth and gums may be affected, and instead of headaches you may encounter broken teeth, fillings, loose teeth and toothache with no apparent cause. If you have any of these problems, you should see a dentist right away

Patients suffering from these symptoms usually consult their primary care physician first, and then are referred on to an ENT or Neurologist dependent upon their symptoms.  If the symptoms persist the specialists may then refer them on to a dentist to rule out jaw problems associated with TMD.

More and more physicians are realizing the benefits of a dental treatment for TMD.   “We have a number of ENT’s and Neurologists that have referred their patients to us when their symptoms showed signs of TMD,” says Costaras.

Mouthpiece May Treat Tension Headaches

Dr. Costaras explains that simply normalizing the bite with a custom fitted mouth appliance resembling an athletic mouth guard can help many headache sufferers.  These non-invasive appliances, called orthotics are created to find the true rest position for the jaw, which promotes healing and maintains the new, corrected bite position.   “While the orthotic will temporarily stabilize the jaw, permanent stabilization may be necessary,” says Costaras.  Options may include wearing a long-term orthotic, providing orthodontic treatment, placing crowns or veneers on the affected teeth, or creating a neuromuscular denture.

Dr. Bill Costaras has teamed up with Dr. Rod Willey of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine to provide comprehensive treatment for patients with TMD. As general dentists they have focused their practice on treatment for headaches, TMD, and sleep apnea.  To contact the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine call (309) 319-7090 or email them at info@illinoissleepdoc.com.

Conquer Snoring, Sleep Apnea, & Fatigue with a Comfortable Oral Appliance.

Join us for a Free Public Seminar on Oral Sleep Appliances for the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea.
Where: Hult Health Education Center – Peoria Illinois
When: Wed, Sep 14th @ 6pm

Presenter: Rod Willey, DDS, D’ACSDD

Discussion Topics:
Do Oral Appliances STOP Snoring?
Can Headaches be related to Sleep Apnea?
Health Risks of Sleep Apnea
Are you a candidate for oral appliance therapy?
Medical Insurance & Medicare Coverage for Oral Appliances

RSVP to 309-243-8980 or email us at info@illinoissleepdoc.com

Connie awoke one morning with chest discomfort.  “My heart was racing and I checked my pulse and it was 130!” she says.  Immediately I went to the emergency room,” she continues. The cardiologist said Connie needed to start Warfarin, a medication that prevents blood clots, because I was experiencing atrial fibrillation.  “The blood clots could have easily traveled to my brain and caused a stroke if I hadn’t received treatment then,” says Connie.

The cardiologist also suggested Connie have a sleep study to see if a sleeping disorder could be causing her atrial fibrillation.  “I had wondered in the past if my fatigue and recent morning headaches could be from sleep apnea, but didn’t realize atrial fibrillation could also arise from sleep apnea,” she continues.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, when apneas occur the amount of oxygen in the blood can drop to below 60 percent. At the same time blood pressure can soar as high as 240/130. According to the National Heart, Lung, and

Blood Institute, normal blood pressure is below 120/80. The oxygen deprivation causes the heart to pump harder to support the extra effort of the lungs trying to overcome the obstruction of the airway.

This stress triggers your body to respond in ways that may promote high blood pressure, heart disease, and other cardiovascular complications.  A study in the August 1, 2010 issue of the medical journal SLEEP confirms the urgency of treating sleep apnea. Results show that people with severe, untreated sleep apnea have five times the risk of dying from a heart problem. Untreated sleep apnea can also increase your risk for depression, diabetes, gastric reflux, morning headaches, weight gain, and stroke.

Connie’s sleep study revealed that she had sleep apnea.  “Both of my parents had symptoms of sleep apnea,” she says,  “and looking back, I remember my dad snoring a lot. I tried to encourage them to have sleep studies, but they never did.  I lost my mother from atrial fibrillation that led to a stroke,” says Connie.  “I understood how dangerous untreated sleep apnea can really be and knew I needed to be treated.”

The pulmonologist recommended Connie use the oral sleep appliance to treat her sleep apnea, and recommended Dr. Rod Willey of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine.  “I had read about the oral appliance and heard stories about people who were non-compliant to CPAP, and decided to go with the oral appliance.”

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) has proven to be a very viable and scientifically based treatment option for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a statement in the 2006 issue of SLEEP that Oral Appliance Therapy was approved as the first line of treatment for those suffering from mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and OAT is proving to be effective for severe cases as well.  The purpose of the oral appliance is to hold the jaw in a position that allows the airway to remain as open and firm as possible during sleep. Oral appliances are similar to athletic mouth guards, but less bulky and completely non-invasive.  Most medical insurances and Medicare cover OAT.

“After treating my sleep apnea, I noticed an immediate difference in my energy levels, and it was also much easier for me to lose weight,” says Connie.  “I’m not snoring and have a much better mood.”  Connie can now travel without falling asleep the minute she gets into the car.  She has been able to keep her atrial fibrillation under control and lowered her blood pressure.

“Treating my sleep apnea has changed my life!” she says.  “So often people live with tiredness, snoring, weight gain, and discomfort because they have no idea that treating their sleep apnea can change their life!”

For more information on oral sleep appliances for snoring and sleep apnea please contact Dr. Rod Willey of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine at 309-243-8980 or IllinoisSleepDoc.com.  Dr. Willey is a general dentist and is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a Dental Sleep Medicine and a Diplomate of the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines.  Call for a personal consultation today, and be on your way to a better life!

Conquer Snoring, Sleep Apnea, and Fatigue with a comfortable oral appliance.  The Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine provides services to the Peoria, East Peoria, Bloomington, Galesburg Illinois (IL) areas.  Call 309-243-8980 to schedule a consult today.

What Causes Snoring?

“Many of my patients have asked me, ‘What’s the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?’” says Dr. Rod Willey of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine.  “I tell them that when you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward, and Airway becomes narrow and throat tissues become floppy As you breathe, the walls of the throat begin to vibrate – generally when you breathe in, but also, to a lesser extent, when you breathe out.

These vibrations lead to the characteristic sound of snoring. The narrower your airway becomes, the greater the vibration and the louder the snoring,” Willey continues.

“Sometimes the airway completely blocks, causing the person to make a choking or snorting sound and often wake up in an attempt to breathe,” says Willey.  “This condition is known as obstructive sleep apnea.”

According to the National Sleep Foundation, breathing pauses can last from 10 seconds to a minute or longer.  A person with severe sleep apnea may have hundreds of breathing pauses per night. Sleep Apnea is a serious problem in the United States with over 18 million Americans now suffering from the disorder and 90% of them going undiagnosed. 

People with obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk of death than the normal population. The price they pay includes a potentially crippling deterioration in daily functioning, an increased risk of high blood pressure and stroke, depression, and death either in accidents or in there sleep. There are terrible costs for the family of the person with obstructive sleep apnea, who may experience irritability, mood changes, lowered sexual drive and capacity, and a reduction of intellectual ability. In addition there are major business, insurance, health, and social costs including the loss of productivity, the impact

of accidents caused by a driver or worker falling asleep, and the wasted health care dollars spent on alleviating symptoms like heart disease without treating their possible underlying cause.

Sleeping with a Snorer

Studies show that the person with sleep apnea isn’t the only one waking up or suffering from sleep deprivation. When the apnea is followed by loud snorts and snoring, the bed partner may wake up as often during the night as the person with the actual sleep disorder. One study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., found that partners of snorers woke up, at least partially, an average of 21 times an hour, nearly as often as the 27 times the snorers were awakened by their sleep apnea episodes.

In a 2005 study from Finland of 37 male snorers and their bed partners, half of the bed partners reported being disturbed by snoring every night or almost every night. One third of the bed partners reported relationship problems as a result of the snoring.

In a 2003 study published in the journal Chest, doctors from the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., tracked the spouses of 54 patients with sleep apnea. Once the sleep apnea and snoring were treated, the spouses’ quality-of-life scores surged more than those who received the actual treatment. And treating the apnea also improved sleepiness scores among the spouses by 20 percent.

Treatment for Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Treatment options for snoring and/or sleep apnea may include lifestyles changes, surgery, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and oral appliance therapy.

Oral Appliance Therapy has proven to be a very viable and scientifically based treatment option for Snoring and/or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a statement in the 2006 journal “SLEEP” that Oral Appliance Therapy was approved as the first line of treatment for those suffering from mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea and in many cases proving to be effective, in many cases, for severe sleep apnea as well.  “The purpose of the oral appliance is to hold the jaw in a position that allows the airway to remain as open and firm as possible during sleep,” says Willey. “Oral appliances are similar to athletic mouth guards, but less bulky and completely non-invasive,” he continues.   Oral sleep appliances are covered by most medical insurances and Medicare.

For more information on oral appliance therapy please contact Rodney Willey DDS, D’ACSDD (General Dentist) of the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine at 309-243-8980 or IllinoisSleepDoc.com.

Conquer Snoring, Sleep Apnea, and Fatigue with a comfortable oral appliance.  The Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine provides services to the Peoria, East Peoria, Bloomington, Galesburg Illinois (IL) areas.  Call 309-243-8980 to schedule a consult today.

Where: Pearce Community Center - 610 W Cedar St. Chillicothe, IL

When: Tuesday, August 9th at 6pm

RSVP to 309-243-8980 or info@IllinoisSleepDoc.com

Dr. Willey is a licensed general dentist and has been practicing dentistry in the Peoria area for over 25 years.  He is founder of Maple Shade Dental Group and the Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine.  His career path has taken him from studying guided growth orthodontics and neuromuscular dentistry to the treatment of sleep disordered breathing.  Dr. Willey has been awarded recognition in the field of TMD Developmental Diagnosis and is a Diplomate with the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Dentistry.  He has dedicated his practice to the treatment of snoring, sleep apnea and TMD.  “Making a difference in the lives of my patients is what I look forward to every day.”

Discussion Topics:

• Do Oral Appliances STOP the Snoring?
• Can Headaches be related to Sleep Apnea?
• Health Risks of Sleep Apnea
• Who is an Oral Appliance Candidate?
• Medical Insurances, Medicare, & More

Conquer Snoring, Sleep Apnea, and Fatigue with a comfortable oral appliance.  The Illinois Institute of Dental Sleep Medicine provides provides services to the Peoria, East Peoria, Bloomington, Galesburg, Illinois (IL) areas.  Call 309-243-8980 to schedule a consult today.