Discover the DNA Difference …Beautifully


The staff of The Center for Craniofacial and Dental Sleep Medicine.

The staff of The Center for Craniofacial and Dental Sleep Medicine. Photo by Nesossi Studios

Remodeling for Life, Restructuring for Beauty –

We all do it. It’s a routine part of taking care of ourselves and our families. Twice a year, we make our obligatory appointment to the dentist to make sure we are maintaining proper oral health, and perhaps we might improve on some cosmetic issues such as whitening or straightening.  While the traditional practice of dentistry has been around for hundreds of years, specialized dentists have the opportunity to successfully treat many more issues than their predecessors.  Through dentistry, today’s dentists can dramatically change patients’ lives treating much more than simple cavities.

A visionary in the field of Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine, Samuel E. Cress, D.D.S., spent 18 years caring for his patients in the traditional sense of cosmetic and general dentistry in his Sugar Land practice.  But while he was providing for their dental health and cosmetic smiles, he noticed a trend. Many of his patients confided in their trusted dentist about other health issues they were having, along with their frustration in seeking health care providers that truly care.    “Many of my patients were complaining about multiple – and similar – symptoms including snoring, insomnia, fatigue, headaches, Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) and poor memory – even depression.”

Dr. Cress began compiling data on his patients, identifying similarities and researching possible causes and treatments.  “Certain disorders, including sleep apnea, sleep bruxism, TMD and chronic pain, have a direct bearing on the practice of dentistry,” explained Dr. Cress.  “Therefore, gaining a working understanding of Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine will greatly enhance what dentists can offer their patients who need help in this area.”

Dr. Cress has gone as far as to pursue advanced education at the prestigious Tufts School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts in the area of Dental Sleep Medicine to help his patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea: Are You Tired of Being Tired?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder present in approximately one out of every 15 Americans in which patients have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep.  The breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes, and they may occur 30 times or more an hour. The result in these pauses is a chronic condition – obstructive sleep apnea – that disrupts sleep. As breathing pauses or becomes shallow, individuals will move from a deep sleep (REM) into a light sleep or may never reach deep sleep, resulting in poor sleep quality.  As a result, individuals suffering from OSA are tired during the day leading to excessive daytime sleepiness.

The causes of OSA are varied and can range from craniofacial dental arch abnormalities to adenotonsillar hypertrophy (disease in the tonsils and adenoids) to obesity. OSA is the leading cause of other disorders including high blood pressure (hypertension), and certain heart conditions. OSA can affect an individual’s quality of life by causing fatigue, impaired concentration, depression and learning difficulties and has been associated with cognitive defects and hyperactive inattentive behaviors, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Dr. Cress noted that traditional treatment for OSA such as CPAP was not producing optimum results for many of his patients.  The traditional CPAP treatment involves a cumbersome device that uses mild to moderate air pressure to keep an airway open. Essentially, it is a large face mask with tubes worn over the nose and mouth while sleeping to assist with breathing.  Patients report not only discomfort with the mask but sleep interruption or disturbance caused by irritation associated with the mask. These interruptions in normal sleep patterns also cause fatigue, which is a primary symptom of sleep apnea.

Dr. Cress noted a significant lack of compliance in his patients using CPAP.  Determined to find a better solution, Dr. Cress pursued extensive education to develop a better understanding of sleep-disordered breathing and treatment options for OSA. “The great irony about Dental Sleep Medicine is that for generations dentists have examined the mouths of countless individuals with sleep-disordered breathing without understanding the issues.”

The DNA Formula:  Correction  for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

beforeafterIntrigued by the possibility behind offering oral appliance therapy for the treatment of OSA to his patients, thereby doing away with the invasive and uncomfortable CPAP mask, Dr. Cress discovered a groundbreaking new therapy that offered hope:  The DNA (Daytime Nighttime) Appliance.

The DNA appliance is an oral appliance developed to correct many symptoms associated with OSA by expanding the mouth’s upper arch space in three dimensions, which in turn increases the size of the patient’s airway. As the upper arch is expanded, the lower jaw is able to move forward into a more natural position. As the jaw moves forward, it pulls on the tongue and soft tissues, thus permanently increasing the size of the airway giving patients more airflow and greater oxygenation to the body.  The result is a painless, non-invasive, dramatic improvement in the patient’s ability to breathe.

The DNA Difference

While there are a number of oral devices available to patients suffering from OSA, Dr. Cress felt the DNA appliance was a superior treatment.  “Most oral devices simply move the jaw forward and hold it in position, forcing the airway to open to help patients breathe,” explained Dr. Cress. “The DNA appliance works naturally to permanently optimize the underlying structures of the airway. The DNA appliance non-surgically remodels the upper airway by widening the arch, lowering the palate and altering the shape of the oral cavity, which improves a person’s ability to breath. The DNA appliance also tightens the soft tissue and muscle of the upper airway preventing vibration as air passes over them – the most common cause of snoring.”

Astonishing Dental – and Cosmetic – Results

Dr. Cress also discovered additional benefits that the DNA appliance offered in addition to addressing the root cause of OSA. His findings can best be described as remarkable. “Not only does the DNA appliance treat my patients’ OSA, the cosmetic benefits are astonishing.”

In addition to non-surgical, drug-free relief to their OSA symptoms, Dr. Cress’ patients experienced straighter teeth, as well as multiple cosmetic enhancements. And the best news? Patients only wear the DNA appliance at night while they sleep.

“In using the DNA appliance in my practice for more than three years, I now have over 200 appliances in place,” said Dr. Cress. “The astonishing results have not only improved the patients’ airways, thereby addressing the root cause of their OSA, but malocclusion and midface underdevelopment have been corrected. By enhancing the development of the upper and lower face, we are seeing broader smiles, fuller lips, better balance and facial symmetry leading to happier, healthier patients.”

All of these benefits – cosmetic and dental – are accomplished with the DNA appliance, and best of all, cosmetic results can be seen in as little as 90 days.

Success Stories

So what do Dr. Cress’ patients have to say about their experience with the DNA appliance?  One patient relayed her experience of sleeping with her husband now after years of snoring and OSA symptoms: “There has already been a huge improvement in two weeks! The apnea spells have completely stopped, and my husband is going three hours or more without a single ‘snort.’ I find myself waking up worrying because he’s so quiet when he sleeps!  I would recommend this treatment to everyone who has snoring issues; it has made a huge difference in our lives! My husband just said yesterday that he can’t believe how much more energy he has now during the day.”

Dr. Cress knows firsthand the benefits of the DNA appliance. A patient himself since dental school, Dr. Cress has had extensive dental work including all silver fillings replaced, elective root canals to experience the procedure from a patient’s perspective, orthodontics and jaw surgery to correct his bite, an extraction, bone graft and a sinus lift to receive an implant. He recently completed full mouth rehabilitation with complete cosmetic makeover, and today, he continually wears the DNA appliance for better breathing while he sleeps, allowing him to personally experience the DNA difference.

In addition to his practice specializing in Dental Sleep Medicine, TMD, Full Mouth Rehabilitation and Cosmetic Dentisty, Dr. Cress is a clinical instructor in the prestigious Dr. Dick Barnes Group where he teaches other dentists the benefits and application of DNA Therapy for patients suffering from OSA.  Dr. Cress is a featured speaker at industry conferences and educational seminars in the area of Dental Sleep Medicine.

With the effectiveness of the DNA appliance – and the amazing cosmetic results – Dr. Cress believes this groundbreaking technology will continue to improve lives while adding a few beautiful smiles along the way. Traditionally, dentists have been trained to look at patients from a dental, not a cosmetic perspective, but Dr. Cress’ results with the DNA appliance have taught him to look at dentistry from a new perspective. “My practice is about quality of life,” explained Dr. Cress.  “I want to give my patients every advantage in treatment options for their overall health. My commitment to my patients is to get them from where they are to where they need to be regarding their overall dental and physical health. So, if I can treat my patients’ OSA symptoms, straighten their teeth, enhance their facial features without injections, fillers, pain or discomfort, and decrease their TMD pain, their quality of life is greatly improved. Then, I truly have reached my goal as a health care provider.”

For more information about DNA appliances and Dr. Cress, visit www.cfdsm.com or call 281.565.4100.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Center for Craniofacial and Dental Sleep Medicine offers sleep apnea patients innovative solutions and individualized therapies for oral and airway management that are created to improve one’s quality of life.


Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder present in approximately one out of every 15 Americans.  Patients with OSA have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep which results in disruptive sleep patterns.

Nighttime symptoms of OSA can include:

• Snoring: intermittent with pauses
• Snorting, gasping
• Apnea, pauses in breathing
• Frequent and/or fragmented awakening
• Sweating
• Fragmented, non-refreshing, light sleep
• Insomnia

OSA symptoms are also common during the day and can include:

• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)
• Poor memory, clouded intellect
• Poor concentration and performance
• Fatigue
• Morning headache
• Depression, irritability
• Decreased sex drive, impotence
• Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD)

For more information about OSA diagnosis and treatment, contact Dr. Samuel E. Cress at The Center for Craniofacial & Dental Sleep Medicine at 281.565.4100 or visit www.cfdsm.com.

 

What are patients saying about Dr. Samuel E. Cress and the DNA appliance?

“A new product was introduced to me a few months ago called a DNA appliance. The first night I wore the product, I actually slept better, and my wife said I snored less. I have been wearing the appliance for a few months now, and my wife and I have noticed a lot of changes. Not only has my sleep apnea, snoring, and restless nights vanished, I have noticed that my constant indigestion, difficulty breathing while exercising and morning headaches have also gone away. I truly believe that the DNA appliance was the best decision I could have made, and my wife is very thankful I made it!” – M. Mc.