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A Patient's Story
"I had tried everything for my fatigue..."
"I was so fatigued I had tried everything. I have had rough health issues for the past 5 years. I had been to several specialists including an ENT (ear/nose/throat) doc, gastroenterologist, pulmonary specialist, infectious disease, ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine. Some things would help but my fatigue was never resolved.
When Dr. Weiner mentioned a sleep issue I thought it was a little 'out there' because it had never come up before and I thought I was sleeping fine. The sleep test showed I was waking every 3 minutes! I did not have sleep apnea but I was sleep deprived and not getting enough oxygen at night. I didn't even realize I wasn't sleeping."
Sleep Issue Solved using a Dental Sleep Appliance
Dr. Weiner, a biological dentist, suggested a dental mouth guard, a custom oral appliance that could be worn at night. The patient thought this was a little wacky... but was willing to try it on her journey to regaining her health and energy.
Testimonial for a Sleep Problem using an Oral Sleep Appliance:
This patient was negative for sleep apnea on an overnight sleep test but she says, "the very first night I wore the dental appliance I slept through the night...I have turned a corner with my illness."
Sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea or snoring can contribute to health issues or obstruct the healing process. Symptoms such as headaches or neck pain may be a result of a sleep apnea (see Headaches and Sleep Apnea).It is essential to diagnose and treat the causes of this condition and make recuperative sleep and its oxygenation a necessary part of a good health regimen.
Sleep apnea, meaning "without breath," is a serious medical disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. While it is normal to stop breathing for a moment during sleep, with sleep apnea breathing stops for at least 10 seconds more often than it should, and the patient has no awareness that this has happened.
A custom dental appliance, also called an oral sleep appliance, worn at night may be helpful for those suffering from sleep apnea or snoring or other sleep issues. The oral sleep appliance is similar to a mouthguard but custom fitted to the patient. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has approved oral appliances that may help. Many with sleep apnea find the c-pap machine difficult to use and therefore are not compliant with the c-pap as a solution to getting restful sleep, whereas a oral appliance may be an option for those with mild sleep apnea.
Sleep is critical to good health. 
Dr. Lowell Weiner offers a free, brief dental sleep consultation.
Lowell Weiner D.D.S., F.A.G.D, is a biological dentist at National Integrated Health Associates, a leading integrative medical and dental center serving Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. His areas of interest are diagnosis and treatment of toxic teeth, chronic sinus problems, non-surgical treatment of TMJ. Dr. Weiner's specialty is treating dental issues that affect sleep quality such as sleep apnea, snoring and TMJ.
