Almost 54 million adults in the United States suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic condition that causes an individual to stop breathing hundreds of times per night. These apneic events cause snoring, gasping or choking sounds during sleep and the disruption of sleep can result in serious health problems including excessive daytime sleepiness, higher risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic acid reflux. In severe cases, untreated sleep apnea can result in death. Treatment options include CPAP therapy (a face mask connected to a machine to increase air flow), surgery to open an individuals airway more, or an oral sleep apnea appliance made by a qualified dentist.
Oral sleep appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for both obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. These devices are worn during sleep and are custom fit to your teeth and jaw. By positioning the jaw in a forward position, the device helps to maintain an open air way while you sleep. Research has show this is an effective treatment alternative to the traditional CPAP machine for obstructive sleep apnea and most patients prefer an oral device to a CPAP machine due to improved comfort and lack of a noisy machine.
Advantages of an oral sleep apnea appliance vs a CPAP machine:
•Improved comfort
•Portable - easy to travel with
•Quiet
•Easier to clean and take care of
If you are unsure if you have sleep apnea, it is recommended you have a sleep study performed and reviewed by a qualified physician. If you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and are interested in learning more about an oral sleep appliance, give our office a call for a consultation. Dr. Kyle would be happy to do an evaluation to see if this would be a good treatment option for you and our front office can perform a complimentary preauthorization with your medical insurance to determine your coverage for the device. 206-935-4611