Snoring, Sleep Apnea & other sleep related disorders
Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic, progressive, long-term disorder with significant impact on health and life expectancy. Unfortunately, more than half of patients with sleep apnea go undiagnosed and un-treated.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your airway relaxes and collapses during sleep, blocking the airflow. This causes low oxygen levels and brief awakenings that disturb your sleep, whether you realize it or not.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
- Snoring
- Stop breathing while you sleep or waking up gasping for air
- Not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep
- Waking up multiple times during the night
- Waking up un-refreshed even after sleeping more than 7 hours
- Falling asleep while driving
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Poorly controlled or uncontrolled high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation or
- diabetes
- Dry mouth and mouth breathing
Risk factors:
- Being overweight or obese
- Smoking
- Age and gender
- Alcohol consumption
- Pregnancy and menopause
- Clenching and grinding your teeth
- Large tongue
What are some of the consequences of un-treated sleep apnea?
- Heart disease and stroke
- Diabetes
- Early onset Alzheimer’s
- Decreased quality of life
- Poor sleep, possibly leading to chronic pain
- Inability to focus and perform well in school
Treatment options:
- CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)
- Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)
- Surgery (i.e. hypoglossal nerve stimulation/Inspire device)
- Combination therapy
What is Oral Appliance Therapy?
This is a proven treatment option for OSA, either as a first line therapy, or as an alternative therapy for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP. Oral Appliance Therapy is a conservative, reversible, lower-risk therapy, when compared to surgical options.
Oral Appliance Therapy
- includes custom made, high-precision intra-oral devices, which are FDA approved to treat obstructive sleep apnea
- Comfortable to wear while you sleep
- Small, easy to clean and transport, with no hoses and masks
- Can be used as first line therapy or as alternative therapy for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP
- Medicare and most medical insurances provide coverage for oral appliance therapy
How do I get diagnosed and treated for snoring, sleep apnea or any other sleep disordered breathing?
A Qualified Dentist can screen for sleep apnea and refer you for testing and diagnosis. Only physicians can diagnose these conditions. Once diagnosed, a Qualified Dentist can provide treatment with oral appliance therapy. He/she will collaborate with your physician (and other specialists), for long-term maintenance of your condition.
What is a “Qualified Dentist”?
A Qualified Dentist is a dentist who went through extensive training in dental sleep medicine, beyond dental school. They treat snoring and other sleep breathing disorders with oral appliance therapy. They will create a treatment plan customized to your specific condition and symptoms. Your Qualified Dentist will deliver and calibrate the appliance to the maximum therapeutic position, oversee and adequately manage the unforeseen side effects and complications of treatment.
Dr Jordan is a Qualified Dentist and a Diplomate with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. She treats patients with snoring, sleep apnea or other sleep disordered breathing with oral appliance therapy.
When should you see Dr Jordan?
- You have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea and cannot tolerate a CPAP
- You have been diagnosed with snoring, sleep apnea or any other sleep disordered breathing and are looking for an alternative conservative or more convenient therapy (other than CPAP and surgery)
- You have never been diagnosed with sleep disordered breathing, but you have symptoms including snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling or staying asleep, wake up multiple times during the night, wake up unrefreshed or with headaches.
For more information about sleep apnea, visit www.dentalsleep.org . If you are interested in a sleep consult with Dr Jordan, please call our office at 225-673-1557 and make an appointment.
