By Rochelle Miller

Snoring may be annoying — particularly for a spouse who is repeatedly awakened by a cacophony of discordant blasts — but for many, the recurrent snoring may be symptomatic of a potentially life-threatening condition. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax during sleep, allowing the soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. As a result, the individual can stop breathing up to hundreds of times a night. Snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, irritability, and fatigue are all potential signs that you could be losing shut-eye due to sleep apnea. It can increase the risk for serious health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and impotence as well as many other chronic ailments. Moreover, people who struggle with sleep apnea have a five times greater risk of being involved in an auto accident, due to drowsiness.

Diamond Dental Sleep Solutions is committed to providing the best care possible to patients with obstructive sleep apnea. “We work closely with your physician to diagnose, manage, and monitor your apnea and overall health,” says Dr. Asher Diamond, founder and director.

“OSA can only be diagnosed with a sleep study. “We work closely with board certified pulmonologists who use the latest technologies to diagnose patients, often in the comfort of their own homes. Most people no longer need overnight testing in an uncomfortable and strange environment.”

There are two main methods used to treat OSA:

  1. Wearing a CPAP machine: That’s the mask most people are familiar with. It’s the one that makes you sound like Darth Vader! While it is still considered the gold standard for treating OSA, Dr. Diamond says it is not right for everyone.
  2. Using a mandibular advancement device: This is a custom oral appliance that holds the bottom jaw forward. When you gently move the bottom jaw forward, the tongue follows. This helps keep the muscles and tissues in the back of the throat from collapsing, allowing easier breathing.

Once you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea by a sleep physician, Dr. Diamond will make a custom-fitted oral appliance using impressions and models of your teeth. Oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans. It is an effective, non-invasive treatment of OSA with minimal side effects. Patients like it because it is comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable, convenient for travel, discreet, and easy to clean.

“Treating snoring or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can help you feel like a new person,” says Dr. Diamond. “You will find that your symptoms and your quality of life can improve dramatically when you remain committed to your treatment and use it nightly. Treating your OSA at Diamond Dental Sleep Services can improve your sleep, restore your alertness, and revitalize your health.”

Dr. Diamond attended Touro College where he majored in biology, and at the same time received semicha from Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. He then earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from SUNY at Stony Brook School of Medicine and completed a two-year general practice residency at Stony Brook University Medical Center, including one year as chief resident. Dr. Diamond remains at the cutting edge of the latest technology and procedures and is committed to excellence and to the highest standards of patient care.

Dr. Diamond lives in Woodmere with his wife and their daughter. It was a close family member struggling with sleep apnea that inspired him to specialize in that area of dentistry.

Dedicated to keeping our community in the best of health, Dr. Diamond views his profession as a labor of love. “It’s a great feeling when a patient comes back and says how much I’ve improved their sleep (and their spouse’s sleep, too!). Many people forget what it’s like to wake up refreshed in the morning. It’s amazing how this easy CPAP alternative can positively impact someone’s life.”

Rochelle Maruch Miller is a contributing editor for the Five Towns Jewish Times. She is a journalist, creative media consultant, lecturer, and educator, and writes for magazines, newspapers, websites, and private clients. She welcomes your comments at Rochellemiller04@aol.com.

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