Often abbreviated as Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of Sleep Apnea. This is a condition where a person stops breathing momentarily while they sleep and as a result the body is being deprived of oxygen. It is estimated that nearly 30 million adults in the US suffer from Sleep Apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a very serious condition and has developed into a public health concern because of its negative effects on day-to-day function. In addition to a lower quality of life, patients with OSA often suffer from the following complications below.- Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue
- Restless, Disturbed Sleep
- Loud snoring
- Observed episodes of stopped breathing during sleep
- Waking during the night and gasping or choking
- Awakening in the morning with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Trouble focusing during the day
- Memory Loss
- Mood changes, such as depression or being easily upset
- High blood pressure
- ADD/ADHD
- Diabetes
- Increased Energy
- Improved Systemic Health
- Increased Metabolism
- Elevated Mood
- Increased Focus and Productivity in Each Day
- Decreased or Eliminated Headaches
- Improved Memory
- Lowered Blood Pressure
- Happier Spouse or Significant Other!
The short answer to this question is, absolutely we do. Over the last 20 years the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) by dentists has drastically increased as the awareness and understanding of this life-threatening condition has evolved. Various treatment options have been used to treat patients with OSA, including lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and reducing alcohol consumption; non-surgical treatment, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and oral appliances (OA); and lastly, more invasive surgery. Mandibular advancement devices are designed to advance the mandible forward and are the most commonly used oral appliance to treat sleep apnea. This is the type of appliance that we at Chandler Dental use to treat OSA. These appliances are indicated for use in patients with mild to moderate OSA and those who cannot tolerate CPAP.
If you have ever seen or tried to use a CPAP machine you know they can be obtrusive and hard to get used to when sleeping. Some people simply can’t tolerate the CPAP and need a better solution. Sometimes the severity of Sleep Apnea is diagnosed as mild and therefore the CPAP machine may not make sense. This is why oral appliances have grown so much in popularity. They are in comparison much easier to sleep with and are very effective. An oral appliance such as a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) holds the lower jaw forward while you sleep, which effectively repositions the tongue and opens the airway in the back of the throat. This allows for a larger volume of air to enter your lungs; supplying the body with the oxygen it needs to rest. The oral appliance looks like an upper and lower nightguard. Depending on the style of the device, the upper and lower appliances are connected by a thin metal bar on each side that allows you to adjust the amount of lower jaw advancement according to your comfort level and effectiveness of the device. The result is a better quality and quantity of sleep. This is a game-changer for patients and can drastically improve quality of life.In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the MAD will also improve if not eliminate snoring! Your family members and/or spouse will be so grateful for this added benefit!! Snoring is caused by the vibration of relaxed respiratory structures and the resulting sound is due to obstructed air movement during breathing. Since the oral appliance helps to open the airway and remove obstructions, the result is less snoring and a quieter night. Not all people who snore have OSA, but these appliances can also be used to treat those who suffer from snoring alone.
- Excess weight. Most but not all people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight. Fat deposits around the upper airway can obstruct breathing. Medical conditions that are associated with obesity, such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome, also can cause obstructive sleep apnea.
- Older age. The risk of obstructive sleep apnea increases as you age but appears to level off after your 60s and 70s.
- Narrowed airway. A naturally narrow airway is a trait that can be passed down in your family. Or your tonsils or adenoids might become enlarged and block your airway.
- High blood pressure, known as hypertension. Obstructive sleep apnea is relatively common in people with hypertension.
- Chronic nasal congestion. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs twice as often in those who have consistent nasal congestion at night, regardless of the cause.
- Smoking. People who smoke are more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea.
- Diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnea might be more common in people with diabetes.
- Male sex. In general, men are 2 to 3 times more likely as premenopausal women to have obstructive sleep apnea. However, the risk of obstructive sleep apnea increases in women after menopause.
- A family history of sleep apnea. Having family members with obstructive sleep apnea might increase your risk.
- Asthma. Research has found an association between asthma and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
In addition to reviewing the symptoms and risk factors listed above, there are a few questionnaires provided below that will help evaluate if you have OSA. For an official diagnosis of OSA, you will need to see a sleep specialist who will use Polysomnography in a sleep center overnight, or they may allow you to do a home Sleep Apnea test kit. The data gathered from these tests will determine if you have OSA and it will also tell you how severe it is. Based on the test results they may recommend that you come see us at Chandler Dental to get an oral sleep appliance. They will create a prescription for you indicating that they recommend an oral appliance to treat your Sleep Apnea condition.
• Stop-Bang Questionnaire: http://www.stopbang.ca/osa/screening.php
• Epworth Sleepiness Scale: https://epworthsleepinessscale.com/about-the-ess/
If you have any of the symptoms listed above or your scores on the quizzes above suggest that you have intermediate to severe Sleep Apnea or excessive daytime sleepiness, please give us a call today at Chandler Dental. We will set up an initial consultation for you with one of our knowledgeable Doctors so we can complete a thorough evaluation and get you started on the path to a healthier life and better sleep.