The OrthoSmile™ Newsletter

What's New on the Block?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Sleep Apnea; A Possible Exit Strategy without Surgery


What is Epigenetics? This new science reveals that information that controls biology starts with environmental signals that in turn, control the binding regulatory proteins to the DNA. Regulatory proteins direct the activity of the genes.

As we know, sleep apnea is currently treated with a CPAP. If there is moderate to severe sleep apnea, the patient may benefit from a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over the nose while sleeping.

Another option is wearing an oral appliance designed to keep the throat open. A CPAP is more effective than an oral appliance; however, an oral appliance may be easier for the patient to wear. Some appliances are designed to open the throat by bringing the jaw forward, which can sometimes relieve snoring as well as mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Both treatments are without an exit strategy, and are for life.

If the airway is extremely limited by size or volume, a CPAP or surgery are the only alternatives. Moving the jaw forward can maintain the airway, however, if the size of the airway is severely compromised, maintaining it will not help apnea.

The Homeoblock™ has been shown to increase airway size or volume.

Before Treatment:

After treatment

After treatment, this patient reduced his apnea from a Respiratory Disturbance Index of 45 to 5.

Vultus software with a cone beam CT allows us to look at the pharyngeal airway before and after treatment. Please note the change of width in the axial dimension.

This patient no longer wears a CPAP or an oral appliance.

We suggest that these changes are due to the expression of redundant genes or DNA alleles for craniofacial morphogenesis. The gene expression was stimulated by wearing the Homeoblock™ appliance at night. An environmental signal essentially results in the formation of regulatory protein which switches on the gene DNA, which in turn results in MRNA biosynthesis, a messenger protein and morphogenesis.

Dr. Belfor’s article, “The Dentist’s Role in Facial Anti-Aging” will be published in the

INTERNATIONAL JOURJAL FOR ORTHODONTICS (IJO)

Summer, 2009 issue

Theodore R. Belfor DDS to present the

HOMEOBLOCK™ PROTOCOL FOR

ADULT FACIAL ENHANCEMENT

Dr. Derek Mahony’s

Excellence in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (EODO)

ORTHODONTICS DOWN UNDER

Mini-Residency Program

5th-9th October 2009

Aesthetic Appliances Post Congress Program

10th-11th October 2009

DENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

7/85 Bourke Road, Alexandria

NSW 2015 Sydney, Australia

www.dentaleducation.net.au

For further information contact EODO:

PH: 61 2 8338 9420

FAX: 61 2 8338 9418

Courses@EODO.com

Theodore R. Belfor DDS to present the

HOMEOBLOCK™ PROTOCOL FOR

ADULT FACIAL ENHANCEMENT

5th IAO Poland Section Meeting

Warsaw, POLAND

May 28-30, 2010

HOMEOBLOCK™APPLIANCE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATON COURSE

Available on DVD

Contact: Pamela at:

pbelfor@mhcable.com

518-943-7703