A simple nonsurgical device can help at least 20 million Americans conquer
snoring and dangerous nighttime breathing difficulties, according to top experts.
And it's so effective it even cured one of the world's worst snorers!
Called the "Silencer," it's an adjustable plastic mouthpiece that gently positions the jaw to allow free breathing during sleep.
"This is a major breakthrough in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea," said Dr. Michael Gelb, professor of oral medicine and pathology at New York University who
has used the device on about 200 patients.
"The Silencer beats even the loudest snoring problems and ends sleep apnea for the vast majority of patients," Dr. Gelb told The Enquirer.
"This device marks a whole new era in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea," added Dr. Roger Wolk, former professor of orthodontics at UCLA. "It can help at least 20 million Americans."
Well over 30 million Americans have snoring problems, say experts. And 10 million of them suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, in which breathing stops periodically and can lead to exhaustion, high blood pressure, impotence, heart attack, and even stroke.
Standard treatment for the problem is surgery or a pressurized breathing device called a CPAP.
The Silencer corrects the problem far more easily
- by simply moving the jaw slightly forward, so the tongue doesn't block the airway.
Dr. Wayne Halstrom, a Canadian dentist who developed the Silencer, was pushed to create it by his own snoring and sleep apnea.
"My snoring and apnea almost killed me - I fell asleep at the wheel and had a car wreck because I was exhausted all the time,' Dr. Halstrom, a former professor of dentistry and prosthodontics at the University of British Columbia, told The Enquirer.
"Over the past few years nearly 3,000 people have been treated with the device with a success rate of almost 90 percent!
"It even cured the snoring and sleep apnea of Mark Hebbard, a Guinness Book of World Records holder for snoring, when
nothing else had worked.
"Hebbard snored at a level of 90 decibels,
as loud as heavy construction equipment.
"But the Silencer eliminated his snoring immediately," said Dr. Halstrom.
The cost of the Silencer - usually about $2,000 including visits for fitting and follow-up - is often covered by health
insurance.
Currently more than 2,000 American dentists are
qualified to fit the device.
Dr. Bryan O. Blevins |