Maxillary Expansion (DOME) to enable effective CPAP treatment?

babydinosnoreless wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2020 2:17 pm

Sorry I don't have any studies for you all I know is what I've read in this forum and other places.

https://elementshealthspace.com/4-myths ... ea-busted/

I wasn't overweight until a few years ago when my thyroid quit working correctly. Since being on the bilevel machine I've lost almost 50 lbs and have more energy than I've had in years, even before I gained any weight. In fact it was the thyroid going wonky is what led to the sleep apnea diagnosis but I'm pretty sure I've had sleep apnea for years. I've always snored and had bad sleep.

That's quite alright. From the link you posted, it seems that what they're busting is the statement that "Sleep apnea is ONLY caused by obesity." which you and I know both know is definitely not true. I do think obesity is still a major factor, though, whether it preceded or was caused by sleep apnea. For me, it is caused by my retrognathic jaw and "collapsible pharynx."

I've had bad sleep since I can remember, even as a teenager I never felt fully "there". College was a nightmare trying to focus on my classes and getting good grades. Dental school was even worse, with the anxiety that developed from what I believe is going into fight-or-flight mode every night. Sympathetic system going haywire and me waking up with anxiety first thing in the morning. I went to an ENT in 2017 and he said I had no problems after looking at my home sleep test, despite me reporting that I hold my breath in my sleep.

It's funny, you hate what your dentists did to you (and I agree with you), whereas I didn't get the help I needed until a dentist helped get me diagnosed and got me the proper referrals. Things have certainly come a long way and awareness has increased.

Many of us had adult teeth pulled and headgear to pull our upper teeth back and it turned out to have a terrible result, making our palates more narrow in the end. I have a horribly retrognathic jaw (also micrognathia from Noonan's Syndrome), very narrow and crooked lower arch, and terrible sleep apnea. I don't blame them for doing what was "state of the art" at the time, but I will pay for the long term effects for the rest of my life.

The treatment my daughter had was the opposite. Her before x-rays showed permanent teeth up by her nose because they had no room to come down. The Damon system exerted pressure only on the outer surface of the teeth, expanding the palate while allowing the natural movement of the tongue to help in the process. The palate expansion gave room for adult teeth to come down and push out primary teeth naturally--no extractions required. A Herbst appliance helped advance her lower jaw. She has a broad, aligned smile and patent airway. It cost a fortune, but so worth it.

I had all my 12-year molars extracted, along with orthodontics--
but my brother had none of those procedures; and we both have OSA.
So, I suspect that the ortho had little effect on my apnea--
--but it stopped some of the worst bullying, over my hideous overbite.