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Posted on March 22, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Why Do People Snore?
Our culture treats snoring as normal. In books, movies, and TV shows, snoring is how we show someoneis sleeping. Kids fake snoring when they’re trying to pretend to be asleep. ...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 15, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Can a Weighted Blanket Help Me Sleep?
If you have trouble sleeping, you’ve probably had a friend or family member recommend a weightedblanket. However, a good weighted blanket can be a big investment. What does the...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 08, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Get to Sleep Faster with These Tips and Tricks
Did you know that there are ways to get yourself and your kids to sleep faster? It can be hard to settledown for sleep after a busy or stressful day. These tips and tricks will...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 01, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Top 10 Foods That Help You Sleep
We all want to get healthier, more efficient sleep. We try to practice good sleep hygiene, we create pleasant bedrooms, and we try to exercise. Did you know that what you eat d...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 10, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Does OSA Make You More Vulnerable to Covid?
As the COVID pandemic continues, we’re finally getting studies about how obstructive sleep apnea (O)SA affects Covid-19. The short answer is “Very badly.” A r...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 10, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Underweight Ped Patients? They May Need Sleep Studies!
In the dental and medical fields, we’re often most concerned about our obese patients. Obesity can be related to a host of dangerous medical conditions, including sleep a...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 10, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Is Polysomnography Always Best?
A new study from researchers in Australia suggests that, contrary to current medical practice, a sleep lab may not always be the best way to accurately diagnose obstructive sle...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 10, 2022
Meghna Dassani DMD
Good Sleep is Essential for Teen Mental Health
Good sleep is essential for mental health, and it can be especially important to teens. As they grow and cope with stress, the emotional regulation provided by REM sleep,...
Continue ReadingPosted on December 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Exciting Oral Appliance News from Australia!
Australian researchers have published an exciting new paper about oral appliance therapy (OAT) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Oral appliances for sleep apnea...
Continue ReadingPosted on December 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Study Shows Impact of Sleep on Kids’ Academic Achievement and Mental Health
In a preliminary study from the University of Cincinnati, teenaged boys with ADHD showed lasting improvements in behavior, mental health, executive function, and academic achie...
Continue ReadingPosted on December 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Where OSA and T2D Go, Money Worries Follow
A recent study looked at the link between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Type II Diabetes, and financial status in a group of 209 patients. The study, published in the jo...
Continue ReadingPosted on December 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Want Better Blood Sugar Control? Start with Your Sleep.
Yet another study, this one from the UK, has found a strong link between sleep quality and blood sugar control. The researchers fed subjects standardized meals to s...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Have an ADHD Child or Patient? Make Sure They Get a Sleep Eval
How do you feel when you don’t get a good night's sleep? Maybe the kids were sick, or a neighbor had a loud party, and now you’re running on four to six hours instead of ...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Truckers Hit by CPAP Recall and Shortage Turn to Oral Appliances
There’s been a wave of interest in oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea after the big recall of CPAP machines last summer. One group particularly interested...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Don’t Blind Yourself to This Complication of OSA!
Several recent studies have shown that, when it comes to OSA, diabetics are at high risk for complications – especially in their eyes. Untreated sleep apnea increases the risks...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 23, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Children with Extreme OSA Need Extra Care After Surgery
A recent study published in the journal Sleep Medicine examined how tonsillectomy and adenectomy surgery affects children with extreme sleep apnea. This surgery is often ...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 30, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Back-to-School Pediatric Sleep News Round-Up
We’re fast approaching back-to-school time. Over the summer kids tend to get more rest even though days are longer. Mornings move more slowly, there is space for a nap, and the...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 30, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Dry Eyes Cause CPAP Users Much Sorrow
A new study from Italian researchers suggests that Dry Eye Disease (DED) may be an overlooked complication of PAP machine use. According to the American Optometric Association,...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 30, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
A Drug Cocktail May Improve Sleep Apnea Symptoms, But Not in the USA
A team of Australian researchers has discovered that a two-drug cocktail can improve Obstructive Sleep Apnea symptoms. The researchers used two already-approved drugs together,...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 28, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Does Tonsillectomy and Adenectomy Surgery Really Help?
If you practice pediatric sleep dentistry, you’ve probably wondered: Does T&A surgery really help children have better outcomes, or do we refer too many children to surgery...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 26, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Need to Get More Exercise? Treat the Sleep Issue First.
When you have obstructive sleep apnea, you get used to everyone telling you to exercise. Reducing body fat can improve OSA. OSA causes cardiovascular problems – so ...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 26, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea Improves Mental Health
Yet another study has shown a clear link between getting screened and treated for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and better mental health. Scientists at the University of ...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 26, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
FDA Approves New CPAP-Alternatives for People with OSA
As more Americans get screened, diagnosed, and treated for OSA, more alternatives to CPAP therapy are coming on the market. This is a huge benefit since many people find ...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 26, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Not Sleeping Well? You Could Be Setting Yourself Up for Cognitive Impairment in Old Age
Sleep is so important to our brains. A good night’s sleep helps us build new memories, frees us up to learn new things and process new information, and gives us the focus...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 01, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
How Does Epiglottic Collapse Affect OSA Severity?
A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine examined how different structural issues affect the severity and treatability of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in adults. ...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 01, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Why Can’t My Kid Fall Asleep? 3 Reasons Falling Asleep Might Be Hard For Your Child.
Before you can get a good night’s sleep, you have to fall asleep. And for some kids, falling asleep is a hard thing to do. When we fall asleep, we enter Stage 1 Non-RE...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 01, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Do Migraines and Sleep Problems Go Together for Kids and Teens?
A study recently published in Pediatric Neurology recently explored connections between migraines and sleep disturbances in children and teens. In an article at Neurolog...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 01, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Sleep Apnea Treatment Could Improve Flu Outcomes
The American Journal of Managed Care recently reported on a new study that links sleep apnea treatments to improved Flu outcomes. The study, published in the Journal of ...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 05, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Teens Can’t Get to Sleep? VR Could Help!
Does your teenager wake up tired? Do they complain that they have trouble falling asleep because they can’t stop thinking? Have you tried every home remedy you can find, ...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 05, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Who is a Good Candidate for Oral Appliance Therapy for OSA?
Many people try CPAP therapy when they’re first diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). If they have trouble using the CPAP, then they become candidates for oral ap...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 05, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
Can My Child Do Telemedicine for Sleep Problems?
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents have learned to love telemedicine. Telemedicine keeps kids out of offices where they might catch a virus, it sa...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 05, 2021
Meghna Dassani DMD
New Study Shows Link between OSA Treatments and Healthy Hearts
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has shown how obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment can prevent or reverse cardiovascular disease in pr...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 11, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Do Children Tolerate CPAP and BiPAP therapies for OSA?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can cause big problems for kids. When kids aren't breathing well during sleep, they lose energy. They fall behind academically. Their behavi...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 11, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
OSA Could Worsen COVID-19 Pneumonia
A recent article published in Pulmonology Advisor addressed recent studies that suggest untreated OSA may contribute to worse outcomes for patients with COVID-19. The stu...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 11, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
How Has Covid-19 affected American Sleep, and What Can Dentists Do to Help?
The last few months of shutdowns and virtual work have been hard for most Americans, but there has to be a silver lining, right? Shouldn’t people at least be getting more sleep...
Continue ReadingPosted on November 11, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Are There Alternatives to a Tonsillectomy for Pediatric OSA?
For many pediatricians, a Tonsillectomy and Adenectomy is the first line of treatment for a child with obstructive sleep apnea. But is it always a necessary treatment? A ...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 29, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Does Sleep Apnea Change How You Dream?
When you sleep, what do you dream about? Could the content and quality of your dreams be a symptom of sleep apnea? In recent years researchers have been exploring ...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 19, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Is There Such a Thing As Too Much Sleep? An expert from the Cleveland Clinic says yes!
Most people are aware that there's a problem when teens get little sleep. They do worse at school, their mood suffers, and they can't enjoy life. Until recently, la...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 14, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Which Comes First, the Apnea or the Obesity? New research suggests a complicated link.
Obese patients with sleep apnea are often told that their weight gain caused the apnea. This can often send them into a shame spiral, where they reject treatment because they b...
Continue ReadingPosted on July 05, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Could Oral Exercises Improve Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults?
When your patients receive sleep apnea diagnoses, their primary care physicians will often urge them to exercise more. After all, since obesity correlates with sleep apne...
Continue ReadingPosted on June 22, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Screening is Especially Important for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease
While all patients should receive regular screenings for obstructive sleep apnea, these screenings are especially important for your patients with Sickle Cell Disease. ...
Continue ReadingPosted on June 22, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Israeli Researchers Develop New OSA Screening Tool
Researchers in Israel have developed a new screening tool that combines pulse oximetry with an AI app to provide medical professionals with a low-cost method for identifying pa...
Continue ReadingPosted on June 15, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Pandemic Parenting: How Much are Your Kids Sleeping?
If you’re like most families in North America, the last few months have been chaotic. Kids have gone from rigid bedtimes and wakeups to a more freeform schedule. Wi...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 23, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Screening for Sleep Apnea Can Save Teen Lives
We all know about the dangers of drunk drivers, but what about the dangers of exhausted drivers? According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine , teens are at an especiall...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 16, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
A New App to Help Your Patients Get OSA Help
Even if you're dedicated to screening your patients for symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), some will fall through the cracks. Too many patients rush through questionnai...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 09, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Is Untreated OSA Increasing Your Vulnerability to Viruses?
The 2020 Flu and RSV seasons have been terrible, and now Americans face the added threat of the Novel Coronavirus (CoVid-19). Could your untreated sleep apnea be putting ...
Continue ReadingPosted on March 02, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
My Child has Symptoms of Sleep Apnea, but Her Tonsils and Adenoids Look Fine. Now What?
The current first line of treatment for pediatric sleep apnea is the removal of tonsils and adenoids. But what happens when your dentist and your ENT fail to find an issue with...
Continue ReadingPosted on February 25, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Sinus of the Times: How Seasonal Allergies Can Contribute to Sleep Disordered Breathing
Allergies are tough. Environmental allergies affect 30% of US adults and 40% of US children. When people are exposed to allergens in the air, they break out in rashes, th...
Continue ReadingPosted on February 18, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Why is the Shape of the Palate Important?
When you begin to learn about sleep apnea, you may notice that many dentists and sleep doctors talk a lot about the palate. Why is the palate so important to doctors and ...
Continue ReadingPosted on February 11, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Sleep Apnea and Standardized Testing
It’s nearly spring, and for many American students, that means that we’re approaching the season of standardized testing. Standardized testing is a big stressor for many ...
Continue ReadingPosted on February 04, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Why Do Specialists Disagree on Tongue Tie Revisions?
Your baby has a tongue tie. Should you have it revised? The answer to your question may depend on who you ask. Pediatricians, Dentists, and Speech and Languag...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 21, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Could Secondhand Smoke Make Your Child’s Sleep Apnea Worse?
Is your child exposed to second-hand smoke at home or in the homes of other caregivers? If your child is already suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), exposure t...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 14, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Good Sleep Hygiene Could Protect Your Child’s Long-term Mental Health
There’s a reason that sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture. If you deprive an adults of sufficient sleep, their mental and emotion states will quickly deterior...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 10, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Bed wetting: will they just outgrow it?
Nocturia (nighttime urination) is so prevalent in sleep apnea patients that it has become a screening tool as significant as snoring. A research study showed that over 84% of pa...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 10, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
The Department of Transportation Recognizes the Danger of OSA… Do You?
A recent issue of the transportation industry publication, Freightwaves , drew attention to the problem of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Long-distance truckers are elev...
Continue ReadingPosted on January 06, 2020
Meghna Dassani DMD
Researchers Find Link Between Sleep Apnea and Cancer for Adult Women
A recent study by researchers in Europe found that women with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA ) have an increased risk of cancer compared to women without the disorder. There was ...
Continue ReadingPosted on May 08, 2019
Meghna Dassani DMD
Sleep apnea and athletes: Is there a link?
Did you know that in addition to training and physical conditioning and conscious eating, sleep plays a major role in athletic performance and competitive results? Obstructive ...
Continue Reading