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Dallas Dentist Trains Navy Dentists on New Therapy to Treat Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
DALLAS, March 6 /PRNewswire/ - The observance of Sleep Apnea Awareness Day
today, March 6, has taken on new importance for Dr. Keith Thornton,
third-generationDallas dentist and recognized expert on the treatment of
sleep disordered breathing. From March 4 through March 6, Dr. Thornton has
been at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, training
approximately 60 Naval dentists, staff and dental lab technicians on a new
therapy for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Thornton is teaching the
dentists how to treat patients with oral appliances that are adjustable and
can adapt to changes in a patient's condition.
The therapy uses an oral appliance also known as a mandibular
repositioning device (MRD), a highly effective treatment option for people who
have mild to moderate sleep apnea as well as for those who simply snore but do
not have any disease. The goal of this type of therapy is to keep the jaw in a
forward position. The position of the jaw can change the size of the airway.
When the jaw relaxes and rotates during sleep, the airway gets smaller. Moving
the jaw forward naturally opens and stabilizes the airway and is a basic
technique used in rescue breathing and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Oral appliance therapy is consistent with new treatment guidelines
released by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2006. The guidelines
state that oral appliances are a primary treatment option for mild to moderate
sleep apnea and are appropriate for treating severe sleep apnea in cases where
the patient has tried and not been successful with other more commonly
prescribed treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Oral appliances are worn like a retainer, don't require electricity and
can be worn at night without disturbing others. Because it resolves the major
complaint associated with sleep apnea, namely snoring, an oral appliance can
help everyone get better sleep, thus increasing productivity and reducing the
chance for having a work-related accident.
Dr. Thornton currently devotes his entire career to dental sleep medicine.
He lectures nationally and internationally on oral appliance therapy and sees
patients in his treatment center -- SleepWell Solutions -- inDallas.
Contact:
Annelise Thornton
214.987.4827
annelise@sleepwellsolutions.com
SOURCE Dr. Keith Thornton
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