Dr. Edward Shukovsky - Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

As I have posted previously on my blog, sleep apnea is a very serious condition that can be life-threatening.  It is this life-threatening aspect of the apnea that really caught my attention when Dr. Kent Smith introduced apnea to me in Dallas.  The dentist is very well equipped to identify and diagnose those patients with sleep apnea for a variety of reasons.  Dentists tend to see their patients more frequently than physicians. Dentists tend to spend more time with their patients, whether it is for a cleaning with the hygienist or an appointment with the dentist for restorative care. This is an area where physicians and dentists can dovetail their care for the betterment of the patient. Dentists also specialize in this area of the body.  Examining the airway is nothing new to a dentist. The dentist and sleep physician work together to establish the best possible treatment for the patient.

The residents of Fairfield County, Connecticut, in cities like Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien and Norwalk do not seem to have the time to go to a sleep center/hospital.  This is in spite of the fact that such a study could reveal sleep apnea, a health risk that affects an estimated twenty million Americans.  Now it is possible to have a sleep study done in the comforts of one's own home, in one's own bed.  For people that have severe time limitations,  the Itamar PAT-200 can be a time saver,  a convenience and, very possibly, a life-saver.

This amazing device can change the way a patient gets a sleep study. A sleep study can now be done in the comfort of your own home, in your own bed.

Ever since I went to listen to Dr. Kent Smith in Dallas two weeks ago, I have had ("Georgia") Dallas on my mind.  Dr. Smith showed me, convincingly, that sleep apnea is a national health hazard.  I am now seeing this within my own patient population.