Sleep apnea: how it is treated by Dr. Konstantin Ronkin

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep—related breathing disorder in which short-term respiratory arrest occurs. This condition can lead to chronic fatigue, decreased cognitive function, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and other serious health problems. At the Factor Smile Clinic in Dubai, we offer an innovative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea under the guidance of Dr. Konstantin Ronkin.

What is sleep apnea and why can't it be ignored?

Sleep apnea is one of the most common but often underestimated sleep disorders in which a person's breathing periodically stops during sleep. These episodes can last from 10 seconds to one minute and repeat dozens, and in severe cases, hundreds of times per night. As a rule, the person himself is not even aware of these respiratory stops, but his brain is forced to wake up every time to restore oxygen supply. As a result, the phases of deep sleep are disrupted, and the body does not have time to fully rest and recover.

The problem with sleep apnea is not only snoring and inconvenience to others. The main danger is a chronic lack of oxygen, hypoxia, which negatively affects all organs and systems: the heart, brain, endocrine and nervous systems. Without treatment, apnea becomes a risk factor for severe, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Symptoms that cannot be ignored

One of the most insidious features of obstructive sleep apnea is its ability to occur latently for many years. Many patients simply do not realize that they have a problem: sleep seems to be long, snoring is habitual, and fatigue is "well, it happens to everyone." In fact, this apparent normality may hide chronic nocturnal hypoxia — a regular lack of oxygen during sleep, which slowly but surely destroys the body from the inside.

Against the background of sleep apnea, the brain and internal organs experience constant stress. Each episode of respiratory arrest is an alarm signal for the body: the pulse rate increases, blood vessels constrict, blood pressure jumps. The brain activates, waking up to "restart" breathing. All this disrupts the normal phases of sleep, including deep and REM sleep, which are necessary for the restoration of the nervous and hormonal systems. As a result, not only sleep and mood suffer, but also overall health.

The main consequences of untreated sleep apnea:

Arterial hypertension. High blood pressure is one of the first "bells". It is most often persistent and difficult to correct with conventional antihypertensive drugs, especially at night and in the morning. Studies show that up to 80% of patients with resistant hypertension suffer from latent sleep apnea.
Coronary heart disease and arrhythmias. Repeated episodes of hypoxia increase the load on the myocardium, provoke inflammation of the vascular walls, and disrupt the heart rhythm. Nocturnal tachycardia, extrasystole, and atrial fibrillation are common companions of severe sleep apnea.
Stroke. Lack of oxygen during sleep and sudden pressure surges are a direct path to ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. The risk is especially high in men over 40 years of age who smoke, are overweight or have metabolic disorders. According to the American Sleep Association, sleep apnea increases the risk of stroke by 2-4 times.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Sleep disorders and constant stress background cause disruptions in hormonal regulation of glucose levels. Insulin resistance— a precursor to diabetes, develops much faster against the background of chronic hypoxia and metabolic disorders.
Hormonal imbalance. In men, testosterone levels decrease, in women, the menstrual cycle may be disrupted and menopausal symptoms may increase. Chronic sleep deficiency affects the functioning of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and pituitary gland.
Psychoemotional disorders. Disruption of the deep sleep phase disrupts the production of serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin, hormones responsible for mood, motivation, and stress tolerance. Therefore, apnea is often accompanied by anxiety, depression, apathy, panic attacks, and even suicidal thoughts in predisposed patients.

What is the danger of untreated apnea?

For many years, apnea can occur without obvious complaints — and at the same time destroy the body from the inside. Chronic nocturnal hypoxia disrupts the normal functioning of all organs, primarily the heart and brain. Here are just some of the consequences that can occur if apnea is not treated:

Arterial hypertension — blood pressure is steadily elevated and cannot be corrected with conventional medications;
Coronary heart disease and arrhythmias — nocturnal respiratory arrest increases the load on the heart;
Stroke is especially at high risk in patients over 40 years of age with severe sleep apnea;
Type 2 diabetes mellitus — on the background of metabolic syndrome and hormonal disorders;
Hormonal imbalance, decreased libido, decreased testosterone levels in men;
Depression and anxiety disorders are caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters and chronic fatigue.

In addition, patients with sleep apnea have a significantly increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest during sleep. That is why it is so important not to ignore the symptoms, but to undergo an accurate diagnosis and start treatment as early as possible.

The comprehensive approach of Dr. Konstantin Ronkin

At the Factor Smile Clinic in Dubai, we offer a special, evidence-based, effective approach to the treatment of sleep apnea. The program is led by Dr. Konstantin Ronkin, an international expert with 40 years of experience in the USA, the author of unique techniques in the field of neuromuscular dentistry and co-founder of the Boston Institute of Aesthetic Medicine.

Dr. Ronkin's approach is based on understanding the causes of sleep apnea as a dental and functional problem. He considers the position of the jaw, the adult bite correction, the tone of the tongue muscles, the shape of the palate and the condition of the temporomandibular joint as key links in the development of apnea. And this is where the effectiveness of his techniques lies — treatment does not mask the symptoms, but eliminates the root cause.

Diagnosis and treatment: from cause to solution

The Factor Smile Clinic in Dubai has implemented a multi-level approach to the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea, developed under the guidance of Dr. Konstantin Ronkin. We do not limit ourselves to symptomatic therapy, but carry out an in-depth functional analysis of the causes of respiratory disorders during sleep, taking into account anatomy, biomechanics and neurological factors.

Advanced expert-class equipment and a range of diagnostic protocols are used for this purpose:

Digital polysomnography is the "gold standard" in the diagnosis of sleep apnea. During the nighttime examination, the patient rests in comfortable conditions, and special equipment continuously records dozens of physiological parameters: frequency and depth of breathing, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), pulse, chest movement, sleep phases, and micro-arousal. This allows not only to confirm the presence of apnea, but also to accurately determine its degree, type (obstructive, central, mixed) and the nature of the disorders.
Neuromuscular diagnosis is the most important step that distinguishes Dr. Ronkin's approach from the traditional treatment regimen. With the help of digital 3d scan of teeth, electromyographic sensors, and temporomandibular joint analysis technologies, we determine how tension and improper functioning of the muscles of the neck, tongue, face, and jaw can block the airway during sleep. This makes it possible not only to fix the problem, but to understand its mechanism.
Manufacture of individual intraoral devices — removable orthoses that are worn at night. These devices are made from casts and digital models of a particular patient. They securely fix the lower jaw in a slightly extended position, thereby opening the lumen of the respiratory tract and preventing the soft tissues of the tongue and palate from falling off. Unlike universal mouthguards, these devices are created taking into account bite correction, width of dental arches, anatomy and features of muscle tone — therefore they are convenient, effective and safe.
Interdisciplinary support — if necessary, the patient receives consultations from related specialists: an otolaryngologist (if there are anatomical features of the nose, septum, tonsillar hypertrophy), a somnologist, a neurologist, a cardiologist. This comprehensive approach makes it possible to eliminate additional risk factors and create a truly sustainable recovery model.

The technique used by Dr. Ronkin is non-invasive, gentle and clinically sound. In most cases, especially with mild to moderate apnea, it is possible to achieve significant improvement in the patient's condition without the use of CPAP devices (positive pressure masks) and surgical interventions.

As a result, in the first weeks after the start of treatment, patients note:

The disappearance of nocturnal awakenings and suffocation;
Restoration of normal sleep with deep rest phases;
Reduction of snoring or its complete disappearance;
Increased energy and vigor during the day;
Improved mood, memory, and cognitive concentration;
Normalization of blood pressure and pulse during sleep.

Thus, the treatment of apnea in the "Factor Smile" is not just dealing with the symptoms, but medically accurate restoration of the quality of life through the elimination of the underlying causes of respiratory disorders. This is the path to restful sleep, long-term health and full life activity — at any age.

The unique approach of Dr. Konstantin Ronkin

Dr. Konstantin Ronkin is an internationally recognized expert in the field of functional and neuromuscular dentistry, with more than 40 years of practice experience in the USA and Russia. He is the co-founder and president of the Boston Institute of Aesthetic Medicine (BIEM) and is actively involved in the treatment of patients with sleep apnea using advanced techniques and technologies.

Benefits of treatment in the " Factor Smile"

When choosing the treatment of sleep apnea in our clinic, you get:

Individual approach: each treatment plan is developed taking into account the patient's characteristics.
Modern technologies: the use of advanced diagnostic and treatment methods.
International experience: Dr. Ronkin combines the best practices of American and Russian dentistry.
Comfortable conditions: the clinic is equipped with everything necessary for the convenience and safety of patients.