Questions:

Do you snore? Have you been told that you snore?
Do you begin to doze while reading or watching TV?
Have you ever had to fight sleep while driving?

If you answered yes to the above you are not alone

The Problem:
Millions of people suffer from snoring and a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These conditions are directly related to broken and non- restful sleep patterns. Aside from feeling tired, poor sleep patterns may have a serious effect on your health. The NTSB has determined that driving while drowsy or tired is a major cause of motor vehicle accidents. One study showed that over 50% of fatal truck accidents were directly related to fatigue. It has also been shown that people with OSA suffer disproportionally from diabetes(60% of diabetic have OSA), strokes, heart attacks, high blood pressure, obesity, erectile dysfunction and headaches. Those suffering from OSA will have their lives shortened by 5-10 years.

What is OSA?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition when a person stops breathing during sleep. These apneic episodes may last from 10sec to 2 mins, and can occur 20 times per hour. Oftentimes the episode will end with the person gasping for breath without actually waking up. This causes disturbed or disrupted sleep patterns with the affected person not entering the deep sleep stages, leading to the feeling of being fatigued or chronically tired.

Who is at risk:
Anyone can be afflicted with OSA ,from the very young to the elderly. Oftentimes sleep apnea in children is directly related to enlarged tonsils which can actually block the airway. People of all shapes and sizes may be afflicted but very often sleep apnea is seen in people who are overweight, as excess tissue around the neck can obstruct the airway. As a rule people with large necks(>18inches for men and >17 inches for women) are likely to suffer from OSA.

The solution:
In children with large tonsils a tonsillectomy often cures the sleep apnea.
Adults will get a screening questionnaire to determine if further examination is warranted. We may suggest sonar like tests such as a rhinometer or pharygometer to evaluate your nasal and oral cavities. Based on the information attained we may then refer you to a sleep physician for a polysomnogram or sleep study, or we may offer you a take home sleep study from our office. The sleep study must be read and diagnosed by a sleep physician who will then make treatment recommendations if indicated.

Treatment suggestions will be 1 of 3 choices; a CPAP(continuous positive air pressure)machine, surgery or an oral appliance. Surgery is usually done to remove obstructions, like enlarged tonsils or unusually large uvulas. The CPAP , indicated for the more severe forms of OSA, consists of a mask worn over the nose and attached by straps around the head. A hose comes out of the nose mask and is attached to an air compressor which continually pumps air. This can be a life saver if it is used, but unfortunately many people find this device unpleasant and discontinue using it .

Oral appliances, delivered by a trained dentist, is indicated for mild and moderate sleep apnea cases. It can also be used by those who need a CPAP but refuse to use it.. These appliance works by repositioning the lower jaw forward allowing the airway to open. Does insurance cover this? OSA treatment is generally not covered by dental insurance. Many medical insurance carriers will cover OSA treated by a dentist provided that a sleep study has been performed and OSA has been diagnosed by a sleep physician. We have the ability to submit your medical insurance claims for you when an oral appliance is delivered.