STORY: SLEEP DEVICE
SCRIPT #568 SHOOT: 7/14/04
AIRDATE: Monday, August 2, 2004
DHC Master #19 Timecode: 48:24 At least 18 million Americans stop
breathing every night while they sleep.
They suffer from sleep apnea, a sleeping
disorder that can be life-threatening.
Dr. Linda Niessen looks at how
a dental device that moves the lower jaw
forward may be helpful. Details in
SOVT: 1:34 today’s segment of Dental Health Check.
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SLEEP APNEA STUDY PATIENT (VOICE-OVER)
SUPER: Sleep Study Video :02-07 When air cannot flow into or out of
a person’s nose or mouth during sleep,
breathing can stop for up to a minute.
This is called obstructive sleep apnea.
SLEEP PATIENT PAUSING
In most cases, the pause is interrupted by
coughing or choking. These frequent
interruptions during the night robs patients
BILL GLASS WALKING INTO OFFICE of deep, restorative sleep. Bill Glass was
first diagnosed with sleep apnea during
an airplane trip.
SUPER: Bill Glass :28-33 (“A man sitting across the aisle from me,
Sleep Apnea Patient a sleep therapist, a doctor who was a sleep
therapist, said you know, you have sleep
apnea. And I said how do you know and he
said I heard you breathing and not breathing
when you were sleeping.”)
DR. THORNTON WITH GLASS Bill Glass was referred by his physician
to Dr. Keith Thornton. The Dallas
dentist prescribes a device of his own
invention called TAP. TAP stands for
Thornton Adjustable Positioner.
SUPER: Dr. Keith Thornton (“The majority of patients are fairly
Dentist 56-1:00 severe apnea patients who have had real problems being managed.”)
CLOSE UP OF DEVICE Thornton’s appliance allows
the patient to adjust the position of the
lower jaw for effectiveness and comfort.
BILL GLASS (“When I’m sleeping, it keeps my windpipe
open.”)
DR. THORNTON (“They can feel the difference and feel the
airway open. So it’s all connected to the
jaw, the jaw position and musculature, and
where that is at night.”)
ON CAMERA (STAND-UP CLOSE)
SUPER: Dr. Linda Niessen 1:21-26 Sleep apnea needs to be treated because
Baylor College of Dentistry it can lead to serious health problems.
Your physician and your dentist may be able
to provide solutions. For Baylor College
of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I’m
Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
OPTIONAL ANCHOR TAG (ANCHOR TAG)
Dr. Thornton also reports success in helping
patients who snore at night.
Viewer inquiries:
Dr. Keith Thornton
6131 Luther Lane, Suite 208
Dallas, TX
214-691-5621
Additional Note for websites:
The Thornton Adjustable Positioner
(TAP) has been prescribed for both
adults and children who snore at night;
suffer from sleep disordered breathing;
or obstructive sleep apnea.