Our expansion and airway treatment with Dr. Dolgov and his wonderful team has been life changing for both my son and myself!
I found this treatment because my son was experiencing trouble breathing. He had an underdeveloped jaw and crowded teeth. We looked into mainstream orthodontics and were told his expansion and breathing might require surgery and an ENT!
I'm so grateful to have found this non invasive approach with The Dentist Lounge, not only offering expansion to his palate, but Myofunctional Therapy to correct his muscular habits and weaknesses, a complete integrative process.
Shortly after beginning to see the affects of the expansion my son experienced, and because I had decades of sleep issues which I learned could be related to airway health, I decided to explore expansion and airway treatment for myself.
My consult and CBCT scan with Dr. Dolgov proved that I had an underdeveloped jaw (the size of 6 year old's jaw) and an extremely small airway (the width of a coffee stirrer, and apparently it should be the width of a Boba straw!). Dr. Dolgov then had me undergo a sleep test, which informed me that I had sleep apnea. Sometimes my oxygen saturation rate would drop to 80 during the sleep apnea episodes! My body was waking me up to stay alive.
My whole life of struggling to sleep and feeling sensitive came down to a structural issue! I had struggled with insomnia since I was a teenager. I am now 56 years old. I have always been "sensitive" to stimulation, noises, too many people etc. I assumed because of my "sensitivity" that I was a light sleeper. To feel balanced mentally, emotionally and physically I would have to practice a lot of different modalities, exercise, yoga, and meditation in the middle of the night, as well as during the day after being in a situation that my "sensitive nature" would be affected by.
At the 4-month mark of my expansion process I had to keep checking the mirror! It felt as if my nose had gotten bigger, but it was internally that my nose/airway had expanded... who knew this is how we are meant to breathe! It has made a world of difference!
I'm halfway through the expansion and airway dentistry treatment now and it is amazing how I feel so balanced with more oxygen getting to my brain and regular deep REM sleep. Your organs need oxygen! I am a completely different person. Dr. Dolgov confirmed it was the lack of oxygen and lack of REM sleep, (which allows your brain to process your day) which led me to be such a sensitive person. I no longer have to constantly do all these practices to feel balanced and normal in my body.
It has been life changing and medically necessary for my sleep issues, sleep apnea, oxygen saturation and overall wellbeing!
I know two people that have gone the surgery route for the same procedure of palate expansion. Those people have also had to have orthodontics after getting their surgical expansion. The Dentist Lounge and Dr. Dolgov's procedure was not invasive and certainly more cost effective than going the surgery route! My teeth and mouth never hurt, it has been a gentle and gradual process. I have been one of Dr. Dolgov's best patient, wearing my retainers at least 20 hours a day, so I have experienced very rapid results.
We love The Dentist Lounge! Dr. Dolgov, Dr. Larbi and their entire support staff are wonderful people, a very caring small office of cutting edge professionals. I urge anyone to explore this life changing health procedure or visit The Dentist Lounge for your regular ongoing dental hygiene care!
I will post before and after pictures after my son and I finish our treatments. read more