John Tucker, DMD, founder of Tucker Educational Excellence LLC (tuckereducationalexcellence.com), discusses sleep apnea and treatment.

 

Tucker is an experienced medical professional who has treated many patients over his long career, as well as educated countless dentists on dental sleep medicine. Tucker Educational Excellence provides intensive educational programs that focus on the successful implementation of dental sleep medicine practices within the dental industry. Tucker is a respected dentist and Diplomate of The American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.

 

Tucker explains that dental sleep medicine focuses on treating patients who have obstructive sleep apnea and are intolerant of their traditional CPAP therapy. Tucker describes CPAP, which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, as a vacuum cleaner in reverse. 

 

CPAP provides a continuous flow of airway pressure to your throat to keep your airway open during sleep, which is generally successful as a means to treat the spontaneous pauses in your breath that are so often connected with sleep apnea. 

 

Tucker describes their process for diagnosing, which must come from a board certified sleep physician. He discusses home sleep testing, which is becoming more and more popular as it offers users the opportunity to stay within the comfort of their own home and bed.

 

Tucker talks about his experiences as a child, watching his father have snoring problems and extended periods without breathing. Tucker states that remarkably, some people they have seen, go up to a minute and a half without breathing when they are experiencing sleep apnea. 

 

The sleep expert talks about strategies to prevent various diseases; and he stresses the importance of early intervention, accessible care that is cost effective, and the family members need to be engaged. He talks about the costs of untreated sleep apnea, and the correlation with diabetes, sexual dysfunction, stroke, and GERD. 

 

Tucker states that 1 out of 4 Americans are undiagnosed. Tucker goes on to explain his practice and how they discover airway issues. He explains how they look into the mouth and search for what he refers to as a high-vaulted palate, as well as tongue issues, and gum issues.

 

Tucker Educational Excellence offers intensive learning experiences for all levels of knowledge. Their courses cover basic dental sleep medicine implementation, individualized onsite programs, as well as guided learning experiences working directly with Tucker for extended periods.