Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common sleep disorder. It occurs when a person stops breathing during the night for several seconds up to a minute or more. It is often accompanied by snoring. This disorder can cause a significant disruption in your sleeping patterns and can be very harmful to your health.  

The most common form of Sleep Apnea is caused by soft tissues in your mouth and throat closing over your airway, temporarily blocking the passage of air.  This blockage deprives your brain and body of the oxygen it needs.  When your brain senses this, it sends a message to your muscles to tighten up to reopen the airway.  At this point a loud gasp or snort may occur, followed by resumed breathing.  Many people do not wake up when this takes place.  Nor do they remember in the morning that they suffered from disrupted breathing over night.

Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea may be treated with the use of an oral device. The devices are custom made to fit your mouth, preventing your tongue and other soft tissues from relaxing into a position that blocks airflow.

You would want to schedule a dental appointment for a screening to determine whether or not an oral device will be effective.

It is abolutely essential that dentists get an overnight sleep study done and diagnosed by a sleep physcian prior to the fabrication of an oral device. A proper medical evaluation must precede oral device therapy. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (Medical Devision) and the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (Dental Division) both agree that oral devices are indicated for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. They are also indicated in severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea where the patients cannot tolerate CPAP treatment. They are also indicated for patients who refused any of the proposed surgical options.

  The benefits of these devices include:

• Comfortable alternative to a CPAP device (large mask shown at right) 
• Adjunctive device to a CPAP 
• Significant reduction in breathing difficulties 
• Improved air flow 
• Improvement in sleep 
• Reduction in frequency and volume of snoring in most patients                                      CPAP Device (we offer alternatives)
• Prevention of associated healthproblems 
• Confortable  
• Travels Easily  
• Reversible                

 Effectiveness of Oral Devices:

Summary of current research courtesy of Dr Jonathan Parker

Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea (RDI=5-20 events/hour) 76% success

Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (RDI=20-40 events/hour) 61% success

Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (RDI>40events/hour) 40% sucess

Prevalence of Sleep Disorders and ZZZ facts 

• One third of the US population suffers from sleep disorders 
• 40 Million individuals are chronic sufferers 
• Less than 10% have been diagnosed or treated to date 
• More tha 40% of adults over 40 snore 
• 60% males and 40% females over the age of 60 snore 
• 75 million Americans snore 
• 45 million snore every night 
• 9% of men and 4% of woman have Obstructive Sleep Apnea 
• 4% of men have Obstructive Sleep Apnea symptoms 
• 2% of women have Obstructive Sleep Apnea symptoms 
• As many as 18 million Americans suffer from undiagnosed and untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea , a condition in which the airway completely closes during sleep. 
• Oral Devices offer non-invasive treatment. Oral device use compliance averages 75%. Surgery is invasive and costly with unpredictable results, while cumbersome CPAP is worn by less than 50% of its owners 
• Loudness of snoring can reach as high as 90 decibels, the range that ear protectors are required in the workplace. 
• Several states have announced legislation that requires commercial drivers undergo medical evaluation for sleep disorders before issuing renewal licenses. 
• Published rearch (Thorax, April 1997) establishes dental oral devices as the first line of treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. ten of the eleven patients successfully treated with both the CPAP and a dental oral device preferred the dental oral device as their long term treatment option. 
• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (sleep physcians or pulmonologists) declared recently in the medical journal Sleep, January 2006 issue, that the first treatment options for patients with mild or moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea was an oral device. Patients who cannot wear the CPAP and are declared CPAP intolerant or who do not want surgery are also excellent candidates for oral devices. 
• Snoring in Children: Snoring children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids are at risk for significant cardiovascular, developmental, educational and behavioral consequences of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleepiness in children is manifested as hyperactivity or antisocial behavior. It is documented that an increased prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in children suffer from ADHD. 

• Please review the lists below. If you recognize that these factors are representative of you or a loved one, we encourage you to contact our office. You may suffer from Snoring or Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  

Clinical Signs and Symptoms

• Snoring 
• Excessive Sleepiness During The Day 
• Awakening with gasping and choking 
• Fragmented, non-refreshing, light sleep 
• Morning Headaches 
• Irritability 
• Poor Short Term Memory  
• Clouded intellect 
• Difficulty Concentrating 
• Fatigue, Even After Full Night Sleep 
• Mood swings 
• Night Sweating 
• Weight Gain 

Risk Factors*

• Male  
• Age 40 – 60  
• Obesity  
• Smoker  
• Alcohol Use  
• Family History of Sleep Apnea  
• Large Neck  
• Overbite  
• Large Tongue  
• Diabetes  

*Sleep Apnea can certainly occur in females, and children, and people who are not obese.  However, the risk factors above are indicators that you are at a much greater risk for having the Sleep Apnea disorder. 

Negative Effects of Sleep Apnea

People with obstructive sleep apnea may feel very sleepy during the day and their concentration and daytime performance may suffer. They can also suffer from depression, irritability, sexual dysfunction, learning and memory difficulties, and falling asleeps at inappropriate times. It has recently been shown that sleep apnea contributes to high blood pressure and risk for heart attacks and strokes may increase.

Dangers Of Letting Obstructive Sleep Apnea Go Untreated

When left untreated, the disorder can lead to serious consequences:

• Increased risk of heart problems 
• Increased risk of stroke 
• Increased risk of high blood pressure 
• Increased risk Motor vehicle accidents or accidents at work 
• Death 

Co-Existing Diseases

Diabetes - Approximately 60% of Type 2 patients with diabetes have Obstructive Sleep Apnea . Studies have shown that sleep apnea contributes to insulin resistance, which can lead to Type Two Diabetes.

High Blood Pressure - The National Institute of Health lists slepp apnea as a cause of high blood pressure. Approximately 35% of all people with high blood pressure have Obstructive Sleep Apnea . Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients with high blood pressure may reduce their levels signicantly by receiving Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment.

Heart Disease - Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea puts prolonged stress on the heart and as a negative impact on heart function in general These risk factors may be improved with treatment.

Stroke - Obstructive Sleep Apnea can increase a person's risk of stroke and 60% of patients who have had a stroke also have Obstructive Sleep Apnea . Sroke patients with untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea may have higher mortality rates post stroke then other do.

Obesity - Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects up to 40% of obese people. Obstructive Sleep Apnea makes weight loss more difficult as the sleepiness caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea may cause prople to overeat, sleep more and exercise less.

GERD - Struggling to breathe creates large intrathoracic pressure forcing the stomach contents into the thoracic esophagus.

Assessing Potential Sleep Disorders

Spouses, family members, friends, roommates and co-workers are in a unique position to help identify loved ones or friends who show symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea . People who snore and have Obstructive Sleep Apnea do not know the extent of their snoring and they do not know they have Obstructive Sleep Apnea . They are not aware that their breathing stops and starts many times while they sleep. It is strongly recommended that individual who are concerned about their sleep problems contact a primary care physcian and request a consultation with a board certified sleep specialist.