Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Just about everyone snores occasionally. It is estimated that about 40% of men and 25% of women are habitual snorers. Snoring may seem like a harmless habit or just a nuisance to a bed partner but snoring can affect the quantity and quality of your sleep. Inadequate or poor quality sleep can lead to daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, depression and an increased risk of serious health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
If you snore and have any of the symptoms above you may have a condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Sleep Apnea is as common as adult diabetes but most often goes undiagnosed.
The word "apnea" literally means "without breath." People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer. With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the muscles and soft tissues of the upper airway relax during sleep and cause collapse of the airway. As the airway narrows, airflow becomes restricted, depriving the body of oxygen. This places stress on the brain and heart. Further, as the body compensates by waking itself, it disrupts the natural sleep pattern and doesn't allow the body to get the deep, restorative sleep that it needs to function normally.
How is it Diagnosed?
If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, you should see a doctor right away. Your primary care doctor or even your dentist at Matthews Family Dentistry can refer you to a sleep specialist for a complete evaluation including a sleep test. A sleep test is the only way to find out for sure if you have a sleep disorder. You can also fill out the Sleep Screening Form here and bring it in to our office so that we can assess your risks.
How is it treated?
The gold standard treatment for OSA is the use of a breathing machine called a CPAP (continuous positive air pressure) machine. However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine now "recommends oral appliances as a first line treatment option for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who either prefer it to CPAP or are unable to successfully use CPAP.
Oral Appliance Therapy for OSA works by repositioning your lower jaw while you sleep so that your airway remains open and apneas are prevented. The result is a drastic decrease or elimination of snoring and more restful, restorative sleep. Subsequently, your risks for other related health problems are improved.
An oral appliance can also be used to treat snoring even if you do not have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Call our office to set up an appointment for a free consultation if you snore or think you may have sleep apnea.
Referring Providers
If you have a patient that you think may benefit from Oral Appliance Therapy, please complete our Referral Form and fax to (704) 708-9185 and we will contact the patient for a free consultation.
