Dental Sleep Medicine is the art and science of treating sleep apnea and snoring with intr-oral appliances instead of CPAP or surgery. The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine bestows Diplomate status on dentists who have been recognize as reaching the highest levels of expertise in Dental Sleep Medicine.
Dr Shapira has created the website http://www.ihatecpap.com to help patients seeking oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea to fin information and to locate qualified sleep apnea dentists. Dentists from around the United States travel to Gurnee to take courses in Dental Sleep Medicine from Dr Shapira a pioneer in the field. He was one of twenty dentists from around the U.S. who founded the Sleep Disorder Dental Society 18 years ago.
Dr Shapira emphasizes that he does not "hate CPAP' but named his company to reflect how many patients felt about CPAP. About 25% of patients love their CPAP from the first day and it is an excellent treatment for them but the majority of patients struggle to adapt to it. A recent study showed 60% abandon CPAP treatment or are CPAP intolerant.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine considers oral appliances a first line treatment for sleep apnea along with CPAP. Surgery is not considered a first line treatment in adults. the National Sleep Foundation considers oral appliances a therapy whose time has come.
Dr Shapira has recently started a new website http:www.ihateheadaches.org to bring help to patients suffering chronic headache pain.
