PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO SLEEP
WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?
There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. The airway continually becomes blocked and limits the amount of air that reaches your lungs. When this happens, you may snore loudly or make choking or gasping noises as you try to breathe. Eventually the brain “wakes ” you to a lighter level of sleep and you reposition your jaw and tongue to open your airway. This process can occur hundreds of times a night for seconds to minutes at a time. More often than not, sleep apnea is misdiagnosed or missed completely. Symptoms can easily be confused with a separate health problem which is actually a component of the underlying sleep disorder. Although the levels of severity of sleep apnea varies between individuals, it usually greatly affects the quality of life of the sufferer as well as their bed partner. If left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to heart disease, stroke, and premature death.
IS SNORING KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT?
While you sleep, the muscles of your throat relax, your tongue falls backward, and your throat becomes narrow and “floppy.” As you breathe, the walls of the throat begin to vibrate leading to the sound of snoring. The narrower your airway becomes, the greater the vibration and the louder you snore. Sometimes, the walls of the throat collapse completely creating a condition called apnea (cessation of breathing). This is a serious condition which requires medical attention.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
If your physician believes that your snoring is not a symptom of a more serious sleep disordered breathing problem, an oral appliance can be used to quiet your snoring and improve the sleep of your bed partner!
WHAT WE OFFER
Referral for sleep testing if needed.
Custom oral sleep appliances and treatment plans.
Personal, one-on-one care with
our experts Dr. Ashley Hill Lindsey and Kelli Pounds.
CPAP
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP is comprised of a mask that delivers positive air flow to the nose and sometimes the mouth during sleep. This device is highly effective and the recommended first line of treatment for severe sleep apnea. However, some patients have a difficult time tolerating this therapy. There are various reasons for CPAP intolerance including comfort issues, mask leak, and claustrophobia. CPAP machines are generally covered by medical insurance and are the gold standard for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
ORAL AIRWAY APPLIANCES
There is a large selection of dental devices that can be custom fabricated to support the lower jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway. They are designed as an effective alternative for those who don’t tolerate CPAP. Virtually all major medical insurance companies and Medicare cover oral appliance therapy using the same criteria used in determining the medical necessity of CPAP. Coverage is available for patients who have failed CPAP or as a first line treatment for those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
OUR APPLIANCES
