ShapiraIHateCPAP Blog

Mike describes his experience with CPAP. Since he found it loud and uncomfortable, he tried an alternate option. Dr. Shapira, in Highland Park, Illinois, provided him with a dental appliance for his sleep apnea and snoring. Mike has used this appliance for 6 years now and has found relief and has been able to get better, healthier sleep.    Visit http://www.thinkbetterlife.com  to learn how we can use neuromuscular dental techniques to help with your sleep apnea and snoring. Sleep disorders often result in fatigue, trouble concentrating, memory loss, relationship problems, a decrease in job performance, among other effects. Simple dental devices are available to help you stop snoring,… Read Full Post

Larry describes how his sleep appliance makes his wife happy and is great for his marriage. He knows he is in trouble if he doesn't wear it. His wife will take care of it. Watch The Video on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpxGYFW175s Recommend sleep appliance to everyone and anyone. Chicago Sleep Apnea Treatment www.NorthShroesleepdentist Highland Park www.ThinkBetterLife.com www.IHateCPAP.com Headaches, Migraines and TMJ disorders www.IHateHeadaches.org www.ThinkBetterLife.com   Ira L Shapira DDS, D,ABDSM, D,AAPM, FICCMO Chair, Alliance of TMD Organizations Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management Diplomat, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine Regent &… Read Full Post

Patient with Sleep Apnea loves his oral appliances that treats his sleep apnea. $ years into appliance and life is great. No Snoring, No Apnea , No Morning Headaches. Oral Appliances offer a comfortable and effective method of treating sleep apnea and snoring. Dr Shapira is a pioneer in the field of Dental Sleep Medicine and has been treating snoring and sleep apnea since 1982. He became a visiting Assistant Professor at Rush Medical School in 1985. Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8NSLk9MHwg No CPAP! No Hose, No Mask No CPAP Machine Chicago/ Highland Park www.ThinkBetterLife.com www.NorthShoreSleepDentist.com www.IHATECPAP.com Headaches, Migraines TMJ Disorders www.… Read Full Post

Ankylosing Spondylitis:     Severe Migraines Chronic Daily Headaches Treatment with neuromuscular dentistry, ULF-TENS and SPG Blocks These  three videos are Daniels Story of recovery from TMJ, Migraines, Chronic Daily Headaches and disability caused by Ankylosing Spondylitis.   The first video was at the end of the consultation appointment... He had had an SPG Block , ULF TENS and a myobite as a temporary orthotic while his appliance was made. The second video is the day his neuromuscular orthotic was delivered and he can again lift his son. The third is at the 6 month point in treatment. He is celebrating being completely off Methadone for pain after being on extremely high doses for… Read Full Post

The following post was originally from wwwThinkBetterLife.com and was an answer to a patients concern.  Bite changes can and do occur but rarely cause long-term problems.  Dentists treating Sleep Apnea with oral appliances should understand treatment of TMJ disorders (temporomandibular disorders or TMD) Julie's Question: I have obstructive sleep apnea and I wear a Somnomed appliance at night. As a result, my bottom teeth and top teeth are meeting on top of each other and the bottom teeth are off to the side. I would to be able to straighten my bite and wear the sleep appliance at night. Is this possible? Please let me know if you have additional questions. I have consulted a prosthodontist… Read Full Post

Oral Appliances are preferred over by 95% of patients with Sleep Apnea yet CPAP is usually prescribed even in mild and moderate sleep apnea when outcomes are equal. Patient Testimonials say it all! Do CPAP Companies Pay Kickbacks to promote CPAP? CHICAGO, IL, April 09, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Treatment of sleep apnea is essential. CPAP was once considered the Gold Standard of Care but today Oral Appliances are considered a First Line Approach equal to CPAP for mild to moderate Sleep Apnea and an alternative for severe apnea when the patient does not tolerate or prefers oral appliance therapy.  Patients generally don't like CPAP, in fact only 25% use CPAP as recommended but 60% abandon it… Read Full Post

Chicago Sleep Apnea Treatment:  Patient Testimonials Praise Oral Appliance Therapy   Sleep Apnea is Dangerous with a host of serious medical problems associated .   Live a longer healthier life by treating your sleep disordered breathing. Sleep Apnea treatment is life changing when it is successful.  only one in four patients wear CPAP as recommended and 60% abandon it completely.  The Most common complaint is I Hate CPAP due to: Mask. Hose Noise, Claustrophobia, Bronchitis, Acne, Dry eyes and the list is almost endless. 95% OF PATIENTS PREFER ORAL APPLIANCES OVER CPAP IF OFFERED A CHOICE!  It has been reported that Colin Sullivan the Australian who invented CPAP utilizes an oral… Read Full Post

I received this message from a researcher at Rush,where I did research at Rush Sleep Center under Dr Cartwright as a Visiting Assistant Professor starting in 1985-1991 on jaw position and sleep apnea and found that Female TMJ (migraine/headache) patients had similar neuromuscular bite relations as male sleep apnea patients. "Dr Shapira,  My name is Megan Crawford and I am a researcher at the sleep center at Rush University Medical Center. It is with great enthusiasm that I read about your practice, and how you emphasize the importance of good sleep. We here in the Rush Sleep Center have become interested in understanding the relationship between sleep and migraine, and whether treating… Read Full Post

Sleep Apnea treatment is life changing when it is successful.  only one in four patients wear CPAP as recommended and 60% abandon it completely.  The Most common complaint is I Hate CPAP due to: Mask. Hose Noise, Claustrophobia, Bronchitis, Acne, Dry eyes and the list is almost endless. 95% OF PATIENTS PREFER ORAL APPLIANCES OVER CPAP IF OFFERED A CHOICE!   Treatment of sleep apnea is essential. CPAP was once considered the Gold Standard of Care but today Oral Appliances are considered a First Line Approach equal to CPAP for mild to moderate Sleep Apnea and an alternative for severe apnea when the patient does not tolerate or prefers oral appliance therapy. Outcome studies for cardiac,… Read Full Post

Sleep Apnea is a serious problem that literally destroy your quality of life! There are many  excellent comfortable treatments for sleep apnea. CPAP is considered the Gold Standard of Treatment but it doesn't work for the majority of patients. Studies have shown that 60% of patients abandon CPAP and only 25% use it all night on a regular basis. There a better alternative for patients who do not want or cannot tolerate CPAP. Oral Appliances are now considered a first line treatment for treating sleep apnea and snoring. Dr Ira Shapira Is a Diplomat, or the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Pain Management.   Dr Shapira recently opened a Highland Park… Read Full Post