What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Approximately one in five adults in the U.S. is affected by OSA, a chronic condition that can lead to repeated breathing pauses during sleep. These pauses, lasting from a few seconds to over a minute, occur when relaxed muscles cause soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. As a result, oxygen levels decrease and sleep is disrupted by brief awakenings. Common symptoms of OSA include gasping, snoring, choking sounds, headaches, obesity, daytime fatigue, and teeth grinding at night.
Is treating OSA Important?
When your airway is blocked, your body prioritizes oxygen over sleep. If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to severe health issues including high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, acid reflux, erectile dysfunction (ED), excessive fatigue, and even death.
How are Snoring and OSA Diagnosed?
In order to determine if your symptoms such as snoring and daytime tiredness indicate that you have OSA, it is necessary to conduct a sleep study. In most cases, these studies can be done in the comfort of your own home. A straightforward sleep monitoring device will be sent to your home, which you will wear for one to two nights before returning it. The data collected by the device will then be analyzed by a sleep physician who is certified by a board.
Snore Frequently?
Obstructive sleep apnea is often indicated by loud and frequent snoring. While it can disturb a bed partner or roommate, snoring can also contribute to various harmful health conditions and result in significant daytime fatigue. Factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, and nasal blockage can increase the likelihood of snoring. Although snoring is more prevalent in men, women can also experience it, particularly during pregnancy or after menopause.
Oral Appliance Therapy
An oral appliance is worn during sleep and is similar in fit to a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer. By supporting the jaw in a forward position, it helps to open the upper airway. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of oral appliance therapy in treating snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
The process for Oral Appliance Therapy is as follows:
- A sleep study will be conducted – most of the time we can provide an at home sleep study.
- A Board Certified Sleep Physician will analyze your sleep study data and if applicable, write you a prescription for a custom-made oral appliance.
- Return to our office for a fitting and fabrication of the appliance.
Making and Fitting Your Oral Appliance
Once your diagnosis is confirmed and the doctor prescribes a sleep appliance treatment, you will need to come back to our clinic for impressions and models of your teeth. These will be sent to a dental lab to create the appliance. Once it is ready, you will return to ensure that the appliance fits correctly. During this appointment, we will make any necessary adjustments to maximize comfort and effectiveness. We will also provide you with instructions on how to care for and maintain the appliance at home.
If you have medical insurance, it is possible that it covers oral appliance therapy. Please contact our office for more information and details.
Oral Appliance Therapy vs. CPAP
An oral appliance provides 70% of the effectiveness of a positive pressure device (CPAP). It helps increase energy levels during the day, promotes better sleep, and helps prevent various diseases. Many patients choose an oral appliance over CPAP due to its convenience, ease of maintenance, portability, and lack of noise compared to a CPAP machine.
