One of our patients stopped in with a copy of this article for me, while I also received numerous emails from patients, friends and family.

Here’s the first paragraph:
By KRIS MAHER for the Wall Street Journal

For the 18 million people with obstructive sleep apnea, the remedy is far from perfect: bulky and expensive masks that some compare to sleeping in scuba gear.

As the number of people with sleep apnea is expected to rise, doctors and medical device makers are trying new treatments. New masks, while still bulky, aim to be more comfortable. Dentists have begun prescribing an appliance that draws the lower jaw forward to create more space in the airway. ( for the rest of this very informative article, please follow this link: The New Face of Sleep )

For all of you that can not tolerate your CPAP, you are not alone!
You have an alternative, Oral Appliance Therapy. I have been successfully helping sleep apnea and snoring sufferers for over 6 years. Oral Appliances are:
~comfortable
~convenient
~affordable
~FDA-approved
~physician recommended
~physician used
~EFFECTIVE

Call my office today to schedule a consultation today, and get the sleep you need!
1-800-SNORING
630-369-5508

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois
Treating sleep apnea and snorning patients throughout the Chicagoland area, including Naperville, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Batavia and Plainfield.

In fact, it’s so dangerous, the American Sleep Assocation is Hosting a conference just to address Trucking and Sleep Issues. May 11-12 in Baltimore Maryland. Visit their site at this link The American Sleep Association Sleep Apnea and Trucking Converence

Facts and Numbers of Driving and Sleep Apnea

Below are the bullet points listed from the American Sleep Association’s website:

~Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and SafetyOSA afflicts at least 20 million Americans…more than asthma or diabetes, and yet more than 85% remain undiagnosed.
~People with OSA tend to have high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke, depression and sexual dysfunction with annual health care costs TWO TIMES HIGHER than those without OSA.
~People with OSA are SIX times more likely to have a crash and SEVEN TIMES more likely to have multiple accidents.
~More than 800,000 drivers were involved in OSA-related car crashes in 2000, costing more than $15.9 billion in damage claiming 1,400 lives.
~It’s estimated that if all drivers with OSA were treated, $11.1B in damages could be saved, along with 980 lives each year.
~MOST IMPORTANTLY, accident and health risks return to NORMAL when individuals are diagnosed and treated for OSA.

At Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, in Naperville, we strongly urge you to find out if you do have Obstructive sleep apnea. Visit your primary care physician to learn more.

Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are looking for a CPAP-alternative? We can help! Dr. Lydia Sosenko, a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, and general dentist, offers Oral Appliance Therapy, an effective and convenient alternative to a CPAP.

Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING, in northern Illinois, or 630-369-5508.

We Love to Help Our Patients Sleep CPAP-Free!

As you leave our office, following a visit, our patient coordinator – Rosa – might have asked you if you would be interested in letting us know about your visit. We would then send you an email with a link to our review site.

A review takes about 30 seconds to complete – Here’s one of my latest that I’d like to share with you:

User Rating: 5.00

01/27/2010
Title: Sleep Apnea — No Problem

Review:
” It´s been over 2 years since I went for my first appointment about sleep apnea and getting an oral appliance. One of the best things I ever did — just ask my wife — no more cpap machine and no more snoring. Dr. Sosenko and staff have been great and I highly recommend her practice to anyone that has sleep apnea and looking for an alternative to the cpap machine.”

We would love to hear from all of our patients. Would you like to take 30 seconds and let us know your comments? Follow this link:

http://shermanoaksdental.thereviewbook.com/review.php

At Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, our goal is to help our patients sleep CPAP-free with Oral Appliance Therapy.
~comfortable
~convenient
~FDA approved
~Physician Recommended
~EFFECTIVE

So effective, my mother’s physician just let me know how much he loves his Oral Appliance! Call our office today and we can help you, too.
630 369-5508 or 1-800-SNORING in Northern Illinois.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S., D.ABDSM for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois

A friend of ours just shared this link that we think is very useful, new information on sleep for teens. Just in case you’ve been wondering if your teenager is getting the sleep they need.

Take a look:


(CLICK ON THE RED HERE TO VIEW THE MSN REPORT!)

And let us know what you think -

Do you have strict bedtimes?
Are you going to follow their tips?
Will you show the article to your teen?

There is no doubt that getting a good night’s sleep can improve your entire quality of life!

For more information on sleep apnea and snoring, visit our Naperville Office, Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, 630 369-5508.

Fact #2: Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT is) covered by most Medical Insurance, with the exception of Medicare and Medicaid. Most medical insurance policies will cover the Oral Appliance when Obstructive Sleep Apnea is diagnosed by a medical professional.

In the case of simple snoring, most policies do not currently pay for the Oral Appliance. However, there is no question that for a snorer, the OA is the best investment he/she can make in his/her health and domestic tranquility.

Our office staff will gladly file reimbursement claims for our patients. If you are not sure if your insurance will cover your Oral Appliance, we will help you send a pre-estimate to address you financial concerns.

Our office also offers alternative Financial Assistance.

Our goal, at Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois, is not to let expense prevent you from benefiting from the quality of care you desire and need. When the treatment needed exceeds your budget, our financial coordinator can assist you in making alternative arrangements. We offer in office payment plans and third party financing companies. Care Credit is available to all qualifying patients. It takes less than 5 minutes to be approved on-line, while you are at our office or your home. Care Credit is interest free for 12 months, allowing our patients to set up a convienent payment plan to meet their individual needs.

Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING (in Northern Illinois), 630 369-5508. We’re located less than 5 minutes from I-88, just off Ogden Avenue, between Washington St. and Naper Blvd. Our friendly staff would love to help you get the sleep you need tonight!

Everyday, we receive calls to our office regarding many oral appliance myths. In the next few blogs, we would like to give you the facts on the 5 most common myths we hear.

MYTH
#1 Oral Appliances are too Expensive.

FACT
#1 Professional oral appliances are custom-made mouthpieces, FDA approved, and
last for years. Fees include all Doctor Treatments up to release date. Oral
Appliance costs are comparable to CPAP.

In fact, most medical insurance covers Oral Appliance Therapy, with the exception of Medicare and Medicaid.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko is familiar with over 20 oral appliances(OA’s). OA’s may be used alone or in combination with other means of treating sleep apnea, such as weight management, surgery and CPAP. There is no one particular appliance that will work for every patient.

A SUAD Oral Appliance, an example of one type of oral appliance Dr. Sosenko is familiar with.

As a specially trained dentist in the treatment of OSA and oral appliance therapy, Dr. Sosenko considers many factors before choosing which appliance may be best suited for each individual. After your PCP or sleep physician confirms your diagnosis and decides that you are a candidate for OAT, Dr. Sosenko begins with a very comprehensive examination of your oral cavity. Along with evaluating your PSG results, she discusses lifestyle factors and sleeping habits such as:

Manual dexterity
Travel destinations (3rd world countries, etc.)
Preferred sleep positions
Oral cavity restrictions (anatomical structures)

Would you like more information on Oral Appliance Therapy and treating your sleep apnea?
Call our office today, 1-800-SNORING – or visit our website, www.tiredofsnoring.com.

Do you think you may be Suffering From Sleep Apnea?
Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms:

Loud Snoring
Frequent cessation of breathing during sleep,
Choking, gasping or gagging during sleep to get air into your lungs,
Waking up sweating during the night,
Feeling un-refreshed in the morning after a nighttime’s sleep
Daytime sleepiness, lethargy
Headaches upon waking
Erectile Dysfunction
Rapid weight gain
Gerd Gastric Reflux
Memory loss and learning difficulties
Short attention span
Personality changes, such as depression, constant frustration, and much more
High risk of high blood Pressure, Heart Attack, Stroke

Don’t wait any longer. Schedule an appointment today, right now, with your Primary Care Physician. Let him or her know your concerns with your sleep problems. Talk with your PCP about your options. Don’t delay.

Call my office, 1-800-SNORING, if you have any questions or concerns. Get the sleep you need and treat your sleep apnea and/or snoring.

There are over 20 million adults in the United State suffering unceseccarily for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a potentially life-threatening condition. Sleep apnea is a treatable disorder. Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois can help you get ready for a Good Night’s Sleep!

Our bodies need sleep to recover from our day’s activities, to recuperate for tomorrow. Most people do not get the sleep they need.

Do you think you have a sleeping disorder? Disclaimer: This sleep test is not intended as medical advice. If you think you may have a sleep disorder, contact Dr. Sosenko or your primary care physician, regardless of the results of this test .
1. Do you snore heavily?
2. Have you been told you have long lapses between breaths while you sleep?
3. Do you have high blood pressure?
4. Do you have difficulty falling asleep?
5. Do you fall asleep when reading, watching TV or during other passive activities?
6. Do you wake up with a choking or gasping sensation?
7. Do you wake up feeling tired or fatigued?
8. Do you experience unusual behaviors just before, during, or after sleep?
9. Does your bed partner complain of loud snoring, leg twitching, or kicking at night?
10. Do you wake frequently or have difficult time falling back to sleep?
11. Do you fight sleepiness on the job or when driving?

If you have answered “yes” to two or more of these questions, you might be at risk for a sleep disorder. Discuss your symptoms and concerns with your doctor.

Exactly how much sleep do people need? Unfortunately there is no “Magic Number”. Excerpt from, http://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need, “researchers are learning about: a person’s basal sleep need – the amount of sleep our bodies need on a regular basis for optimal performance – and sleep debt, the accumulated sleep that is lost to poor sleep habits, sickness, awakenings due to environmental factors or other causes. Two studies suggest that healthy adults have a basal sleep need of seven to eight hours every night, but where things get complicated is the interaction between the basal need and sleep debt. For instance, you might meet your basal sleep need on any single night or a few nights in a row, but still have an unresolved sleep debt that may make you feel more sleepy and less alert at times, particularly in conjunction with circadian dips, those times in the 24-hour cycle when we are biologically programmed to be more sleepy and less alert, such as overnight hours and mid-afternoon. You may feel overwhelmingly sleepy quite suddenly at these times, shortly before bedtime or feel sleepy upon awakening. ”

Did you know not getting enough sleep is linked with:
~weight gain
~increased risk of motor vehicle accidents
~increased risk of heart disease
~increased risk of depression and substance abuse
~decreased ability to stay focused and task completion

What should you do to find out if you have a sleep disorder, limiting your ability to get a good nights sleep?

Visit your primary care physician and discuss with him/her your concerns.
Find out why you are not sleeping today.

Dr. Lydia Sosenko, D.D.S., D.ABDSM for Dental Sleep Medicine of Illinois

Professional oral devices for apnea and snoring work in the majority of cases to prevent or reduce high blood pressure, stroke, heart attacks, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and decrease snoring. However, due to natural changes in tissues within airway passages and around the neck caused from weight gain and age, some individuals may see snoring creep back during sleep. There are several positional devices available that will keep a person from rolling on their back and eliminate snoring or further reduce residual snoring. We would recommend the comfort and support of the Dr. Parker Pillow, or the REM A TEE anti snore t-shirt only after an evaluation of a patient’s sleep patterns and snoring levels are measured to disclude obstructive sleep apnea. Once obtained, these devices are very handy and easy to use as an additional treatment.

Rem-A-Tee Anti-Snoring Positioning Pillow

Visit the Rem-A-Tee site for more information: Rematee Positional Sleeping Solutions for snoring, apnea and maternity

You may follow this link to Dr. Parker’s website and take a look at the Dr. Parker Pillow and how to use. Visit Comfort House Sleep Site Here to view a Dr. Parker Pillow.

Please visit Dr. Sosenko, at her Naperville office, to discuss with her the options you have in treating your sleep apnea and snoring!
1-800-SNORING (in Northern Illinois) or 630 369-5508

Come in, Come in to our Friendly Office and See Santa!!

Saturday, December 5th
1 – 4 pm,
1100 Sherman Ave, Suite 103
Naperville, 60563

Did you see the picture of Santa, Mrs. Claus and our elves in TribLocal?
Were on page 18, under events, but don’t worry if you missed it – just follow this link: http://www.triblocal.com/Naperville/readoz.html

What can you expect at our office?
Hot Dogs, Hot Cocoa, yummy christmas cookies and treats!

Photos with Santa!!

Door Prizes and Raffles, including an i-pod touch, brighton bracelet, silpada silver earrings, Starbucks and Naf Naf Grill Gift Cards, and Much Much More!!

Joins us for a fun and exciting afternoon!
Don’t forget to bring a Toy for our Toy Drive!
See you Saturday-