Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a harmful sleep disorder where breathing ceases for a few seconds or more (an apnea). This can happen up to hundreds of times each night preventing a deep restorative sleep, leading to chronic daytime fatigue, mood digression, and serious health risks.
Some studies say that more than 50% of Americans who have OSA are un-diagnosed. It is important to diagnose this disorder as it can have a deep impact on a person's health. In fact, OSA has been associated with the following symptoms:
Treatment of OSA depends on the severity of the problem and can be life saving for moderate to severe cases. There are several recommended treatments from weight loss to surgery.
Recently, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended oral appliances as an optional first line of treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. Many could benefit from oral appliance therapy alone or with a combined CPAP/oral appliance treatment.
If you feel you or someone you love may suffer from sleep apnea, or you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, please contact Grove City Dentist, Dr. Sheridan for a screening consultation.
The Risks and Treatment of OSA
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens while you are sleeping, when the body's muscles relax, allowing the tongue and soft palate to collapse into the upper airway and blocks breathing. At this time the brain reacts by disrupting deep sleep just enough to start breathing again. This may happen countless times during the night but does not fully awake the person who does not realize they are snoring, chocking and gasping.
As a result ones who suffer from OSA never get the deep sleep that is needed because the repeated apneas and arousals deprive individuals of REM sleep. Any of the aforementioned symptoms may result.
There are several risk factors that are associated with sleep apnea. Several of them are:
Generally OSA is diagnosed with an overnight sleep study performed at a sleep clinic where the needed statistics can be watched and recorded.
The treatment options are numerous, but it is always recommended to make needed lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, adjusted sleeping habits and limit drug and alcohol use.
Other helpful treatments include nasal strips to open the nasal airway, surgery and a CPAP machine which pumps air through a mask that is worn at night. CPAP is the most effective treatment, but many find it uncomfortable and therefore do not follow through.
Oral appliances are a recently recommended treatment. Adjustable dental appliances made by a dentist with training in sleep dentistry have been shown to be effective and are approved for moderate sleep apnea. These appliances are called Mandibular Advancement devices or Mandibular Repositioning Appliances and advance the position of the lower jaw at night to keep the airway open at night. A dentist will find the right position to be effective yet comfortable.
This may be the answer you have been looking for! Grove City Dentist, Dr. Sheridan can give you a screening consultation and help you decide whether this latest advancement for OSA can work for you.
The Berlin Questionnaire | The Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Raymond Sheridan, DDS - Providing services in extreme makeover dentistry to the areas of Columbus and Grove City, Ohio.
Columbus Teeth Whitening
3276 Park Street Grove City, OH 43123 | Phone: (614)-875-8085
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