Blog Archive

Stroke the fifth most common killer and the leading cause of disability in America. If you have sleep apnea, your risk of stroke can increase by 60 percent! Learn how Oral Appliance Therapy can reduce the risk and help you get better quality sleep.

Loud snoring is often treated as something that we find as funny or more of an annoyance, but it can be a symptom of something more serious.  Snoring can potentially increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems.

When Mary Beth (Davis) Rogers was young she had no idea she would one day grow up to pioneer the development of the group that focuses on the treatment of a chronic sleep disorder that afflicted her father for most of his life. Here's HERstory!

When we set clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, it can have a surprising effect on our sleep patterns and the alignment with our natural cycles of light and darkness. Learn how changing just one hour can have a noticeable physiological effect on us!

You've tried exercising, dieting, drinking gallons of water, eating off a smaller plate, but NOTHING works and it just doesn't make sense! You may be fighting a losing battle. Learn how getting a good night sleep might be the best thing you've tried yet!!

It’s a new year and a time when people decide to make a list of things they want to change, goals to set, and plans to put in place to create a better self and a better outlook in life. Read how setting just ONE goal can start you on the right path!

According to AAA, about 112.7 million people are expected to travel between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2. Nearly 102 million will travel by car. If your family plans to be on the road, here are some driving tips to keep you awake, alert, and safe!

During the holidays, traffic deaths increase by 30% according to online driver's education resources. Thanksgiving was found to be the most dangerous! Here are some key tips to help you and your family stay safe on the road.

Seven in 10 people with Type 2 diabetes also have a sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The number of people affected in the US is now over 25 million adults! Find out if you are you one of them!

Deadlines, staffing issues, long hours, excessive workloads -- all of these stressors can manifest into physical disorders of the body. Bruxism, also known as clenching and grinding your teeth, is just one example and can often become debilitating.

Struggles to get to the clinic? Trying to reduce your exposure to COVID-19, as well as other contagious illnesses, and still need to see your doctor? Telehealth is safe and easy — receive quality care from anywhere.

Less than 10% of those who actually have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) have been diagnosed and successfully treated. Take the free self-screening test to see if you may be at risk for OSA.

Sleep is a time for your body to relax, your cells to regenerate, and your body to repair from the work it has done for you during the day. In people who suffer from unmanaged obstructive sleep apnea, their bodies are not given the opportunity to do this.

Your Heart Health is a priority to the providers at our practice. Between 40% and 80% of people with cardiovascular disease also have sleep apnea. Click to see if your symptoms are telling you something!

Flexible spending accounts are a common employee benefit but do you know all the ways you can use them?

The holidays are quickly approaching and we all know what that means: hearty meals, gob-stopping sweets and treats, hot cocoa and other rich creamy delights, and maybe an alcoholic beverage or two! Learn how a 5-10 pound weight gain can be life-changing.

Over 3.5 million Philips Respironics CPAPs and BiPAPs sold between 2009 and April 2021 are recalled due to toxic foam used in the devices. Many find replacing them too difficult or impossible. Learn about other treatments that may be just as effective.

Remember when you used to cuddle, snuggle, and actually bedshare with your significant other?  Are those days long gone and you wish you could get back the closeness that your relationship once had?

This blog provides HELPFUL INFORMATION to make Open Enrollment make sense! Learn the What, Where, Why's, and When's about applying for health insurance.

More and more states are opting to eliminate the switch from Standard Time to PERMANENT Daylight Saving Time. Pennsylvania is already on the move to end the 100-year-old federal law.

Announcing an innovative, migraine and cluster headache treatment technique that is being performed at Pittsburgh Dental Sleep Medicine that can turn off the ”circuit breaker” and block the nerve impulses that cause the pain.

Problems with your jaw joint and muscles in your head, face, and neck are known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD, aka TMJ). The jaw can become "locked up" in an open or closed position where the person can't move it until the joint is realigned. 

Before you head out on a long, vacation road trip with your family, make sure your health is in good order! According to the CDC, one of the major causes of fatigued driving includes people who are affected by untreated sleep disorders.

In recognition of Men’s Health Month, it's important to talk about the dangerous health effects that sleep apnea has on men, including Erectile Dysfunction (ED), high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, and why men are 2x as likely to develop OSA.

The two biggest "partners in crime" robbing us of quality sleep are insomnia and sleep apnea. Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep disorder on the planet. It's described as having difficulty initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, or waking too early.

Spring is in the air, birds are chirping, and bathing suits are on the racks in clothing stores.  All of these signs and sounds lead to one very important question on a lot of people's minds:   Am I going to fit into my summer clothes?

Fifty percent of all employees are currently living with some type of sleep disorder that is causing them to feel fatigued at the workplace and in their personal lives. Ninety percent of employers report being negatively affected by employee fatigue.

According to the National Safety Council, fatigue is a growing problem affecting the workforce. Research estimates that 13% of workplace injuries can be attributed to fatigue, and 43% of Americans admit they may be too tired to function safely at work.

Alcohol use worsens the risk of sleep apnea. It inhibits your body's ability to breathe while sleeping. Alcohol not only relaxes YOU, but it also relaxes the muscles in your throat making it more likely for the upper airway to collapse.

It’s only an hour, but feels like so much more!  When we set clocks forward or back for Daylight Savings, it can feel like we got hit with an awful case of jet lag! Learn how the time change & other sleep disruptions can detrimentally affect your health.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) units are the most commonly prescribed solutions for sleep apnea/snoring. CPAP is a very effective treatment for people who can accommodate to it but, unfortunately, it does not work for nearly 50% of users.

Sleep apnea can lead to sleep deprivation from constant nightly interruptions and shallower overall sleep. Because of how it affects oxygen balance in the body, untreated sleep apnea raises dangers for high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

Bruxism may manifest as symptoms of a disorder of the jaw joints (TMJs), such as clicking or grinding sounds on opening or closing the jaw, jaw pain while at rest or while chewing or talking, locking of the jaw, or the inability to fully open the jaw.

Devoting some time every day to care for yourself can go a long way toward protecting your heart. Taking time to de-stress, preparing a healthier meal, and getting plenty of quality sleep, all help.

Studies show people who act as their own health advocates are more likely to live healthier and longer lives. Finding the best doctors and treatment plans is what everyone wants! Here are tips to help you find answers for treating sleep apnea and snoring.

Smokers are THREE TIMES more likely to have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) than those who've never smoked.  It disrupts and alters your sleep cycles, can damage muscle function and inflame or increase mucus congestion in the upper airway. 

At Pittsburgh Dental Sleep Medicine, treatment for TMJ disorders is a conservative, methodical, and non-surgical approach. The consultation and examination are designed to identify the source(s) causing the symptoms, followed by appropriate treatment.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a condition that causes periodic disruption in breathing while sleeping and is directly linked to the risk of having a stroke.  If you have sleep apnea or are at risk of having a stroke you will want to continue reading!

Most people complain about losing an hour of sleep in the Spring but get excited at the idea of gaining an hour back in the Fall.  NOT SO FAST! There's a catch!!

It’s not the easiest conversation to bring up when you are at the doctor’s office, but can be an important health factor that you SHOULD be sharing with your physician.

Every year, around the second week in September, is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. It’s a time to honor all professional truck drivers for their hard work and dedication in one of the nation’s most demanding and vital jobs.

Seven in 10 people with Type 2 diabetes also have a sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and the number continues to climb, affecting approximately 25 million American adults.

Driving while drowsy can have the same consequences as driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol: drowsiness is similar to alcohol in how it compromises driving ability by reducing alertness and attentiveness, delaying reaction times.

When your airway is blocked your breathing can be paused HUNDREDS of times during the night. That's right -- HUNDREDS! It jolts you awake and can take a serious toll on your emotional and physical health.

We at Pittsburgh Dental Sleep Medicine have been hard at work to develop a process to handle the COVID-19 virus. This article provides the details regarding our plan for pre-screening, infection control, and cleaning.

Do you feel like today is the most Monday-ist of Mondays? I know the feeling. Yea, it's great when we "fall" back and gain an hour of sleep but this whole "spring" ahead things messes with me. If it messes with you too, we are not alone...

Happy Valentine's Day! Make sure to show your special someone that you love them by treating your sleep apnea and snoring. I know this probably sounds silly but sharing a bed with someone who snores can lead to bad sleep. 

Hypertension and OSA There are many comorbid medical conditions associated with unmanaged obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) the most common of which is hypertension. The most recent research indicates that thirty to fifty percent of those who have...

What is the real cost of oral appliance therapy? One of the most common questions we get asked here at the office is how much it costs to be treated with an oral appliance. Unfortunately, there is no cut and dry answer...

Imagine this scenario: It's 5pm, you go to leave your office and head home. You step outside to a sky so pitchblack it must be 9 or 10pm. It's freezing cold and you just want to head home. You just want to head home, curl up under a warm blanket, and sleep

February is American Heart Month! Did you know that people who have close relationships at home, work, or in their community tend to be healthier and live longer? One reason, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)...

Are you planning to watch the big game this weekend? I personally like to start my day with the Puppy Bowl featuring the Kitty Cat Half Time Show and then watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. Whether you watch for commercials, the game, or because...

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders -commonly referred to as “TMJ” but clinically termed as “TMD” can be related to problems with jaw muscles, the jaw joints and often may involve a postural component. Patients presenting with TMD may have symptoms...

Sleep apnea left untreated can lead to several health problems, including high blood pressure. What happens when someone has sleep apnea is, they experience pauses in their breathing many times per night. Some people have hundreds of episodes of apnea ...

Sleep apnea is extremely common in patients with cardiovascular disease. It is well known that when sleep apnea is left untreated, medical comorbidities are likely including; cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, heart attack, stroke, A- ...

As you know, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to serious comorbidity. When OSA goes untreated, your patients are at increased risk for: • Cardiovascular disease (hypertension, heart attack, stroke, A-Fib, endothelial dysfunction…) • Diabetes • ...

The last thing your diabetic patients need is another complication that increases their risk for comorbidity or further complications. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to serious consequences and further complications for your diabetic ....

Oral appliances are a treatment option for the sleep disordered breathing condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This option is ideal for patients who cannot tolerate Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). Oftentimes, individuals ...

When it comes to treatment options for sleep apnea, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, is often times the first option presented to patients. CPAP functions by use of a mask connected to tubes that send pressurized air through the nasal ...

A common theme in the Pittsburgh Dental Sleep Medicine blog is this: sleep (or lack thereof) really can affect all parts of an individual’s complete health. We’ve touched on how sleep and diseases like sleep apnea can tie into anxiety, depression, ...

“Adolescents today face a widespread chronic health problem: sleep deprivation. Although society often views sleep as a luxury that ambitious or active people cannot afford, research shows that getting enough sleep is a biological necessity, as ...

Because sleep is connected to almost every facet of the medical industry and our lives, we here at Pittsburgh Dental Sleep Medicine try to stay in the loop with trending health topics. Almost every other month, something new is published about how ...

Inspire Therapy is the first implanted sleep apnea treatment of its kind. Read the introductory Inspire Therapy blog post that introduces and explains how the treatment option works in the previous blog post, Treating Sleep Apnea is Now As Easy As ...

Are You Looking For a Sleep Apnea Treatment? If you’re located in or near the Pittsburgh area, you’re in luck! There just so happens to be an experienced and highly qualified team of sleep medicine dentists in four areas in and around the Pittsburgh ...

The Mayo Clinic defines a tonsillectomy as “the surgical removal of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat – one tonsil on each side.” Historically, this procedure was used as a tool in fighting chronic streptococcal ...

If you have come to see us at Pittsburgh Dental Sleep Medicine, chances are good that you understand and recognize the severity of sleep apnea. Unfortunately, the dangers of sleep apnea have a history of going undetected in many professions – most ...

Do You Know What to Expect at an Oral Appliance Consultation? Learn about how we listen to our patients and learn about their sleep concerns and issues, and then help them learn more about sleep apnea, and the options available to them at Pittsburgh ...

Inspire Therapy is new technology that works inside the body to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), rather than with a CPAP mask or outer body device. It is a small, implanted system that senses breathing patterns and delivers mild stimulation to ...

We are excited to announce that we are currently featured in the May 2016 issue of Sleep Review Magazine! Learn the story of Rob Rogers, DMD, DABDSM, and Mary Beth Rogers, a ‘dream team’ in this well written article that reviews the couple’s major ...