Purpose of Work

Today, I just delivered a custom face mask that I fabricated for the patient who has significant health problems and in dire need of a CPAP machine in order to maintain his airway at night.  His current CPAP mask has to be put on so tight, is causing permanent marks on his face and is not working because of leakage.  He is unable to tolerate any more pressures higher than it is right now.  So the custom mask is based on a face impression that I take and I attach a mask made out of acrylic to an oral appliance.  It attaches to a post that sticks out from the oral appliance and therefore no straps are needed in order to keep this mask on the face.  It is secured to the skull base via the upper the teeth and there is no leakage.  This mask is extremely efficient so we are able turn the CPAP pressure down which makes the whole experience more comfortable.

 However, the great satisfaction and purpose in making this mask is the dramatic changes in health that he is going to be experiencing soon.  As this mask settles down and we are able to get the pressures correct, he will experience deep uninterrupted sleep, which will enable his body to heal at night and therefore help him have a better overall health.  His cardiac problems will start to level out and his obesity will also be easy to deal with now that he is getting the deep sleep.

 Reason why I came in to this profession to begin with was to help people.  In circumstances like this, the help is so dramatic that it underscores and emphasizes the purpose by which I started in the dental profession.  It gives great satisfaction to make a dramatic effect on somebody’s health and hopefully prolong his life and more importantly the quality of his life.  I believe that is why God let me enter this profession and I praise him for allowing me to fulfill that purpose.

God Bless,

Ron Prehn