HELP WITH SLEEP APNEA DISORDER & SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT
If you don’t have trouble sleeping, I bet you know or have worked with someone who has sleep problems – whether they have trouble falling asleep, snore, don’t like their CPAP machine, or wake up in the middle of the night out of breath.
These could be symptoms or complications of Sleep Apnea or another Sleep Disorder.
The Epworth Sleep Apnea test was introduced by Dr. Murray Johns in 1991, and has been validated and in use in obstructive sleep apnea treatment ever since. It is a simple and accurate way to screen yourself for sleep apnea.
FAQs
WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea. The main types of sleep apnea are:
Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax
Central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, which occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SLEEP APNEA?
If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of health problems, including:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Worsening of ADHD
- Headaches
HOW COMMON IS SLEEP APNEA?
Sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, have become a significant health issue in the United States. It is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, with 80 percent of the cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea undiagnosed. In 11 studies conducted since 1993, it was measured that 22% of men and 17% of woman suffer from a form of sleep apnea.
WHAT IS AN INTRA ORAL DEVICE?
Oral devices (also called oral appliances) are used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). They push the tongue and jaw forward, which makes the airway larger and improves airflow. This also reduces the chance that tissue will collapse and narrow the airway when you breathe in. Examples include a mandibular repositioning device (MRD) or a tongue-retaining device. Our doctors will perform a digital scan of your teeth to produce a highly accurate fitting device.
THAT MEANS THAT THE SLEEP AND SNORE DEVICES:
- Move the soft tissues away from the back of your throat
- Allow for proper airflow
- Reduce snoring
- Reduce daytime sleepiness, fatigue, morning headaches, and sluggishness
- Can help with weight loss
- Protect you from health hazards of sleep apnea
- Are simple to use, comfortable to wear and easy to keep clean
THE CLEAR ADVANTAGES
- Options for a completely metal-free device
- A smoother, more comfortable surface
- Up to 22% more strength in every direction
- 30% less overall volume
- 33% less mouth opening required
- Better airway protection
- 6x fewer monomers and residual Methylmethacrylate for better taste, lowered toxicity, and decreased possibility of allergic reaction
- Less or no tooth movement for improved comfort and accuracy
- Great warranty– up to three years
- 2x faster turnaround time
TREATMENT OPTIONS
The most common treatment, the industry gold standard if you will, is a CPAP machine. A CPAP is a positive-pressure mask that you wear over your mouth and nose while you sleep. While very effective at treating severe sleep apnea, most patients find it a bit invasive and uncomfortable.
For those patients who are looking for an alternative to CPAP, we offer sleep apnea oral appliances, sometimes called MADs (Mandibular Advancing Device) or MRD (Mandibular Repositioning Device).
WHAT IF I HAVE ISSUES WITH MY CPAP MACHINE?
Perhaps you already have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been prescribed a CPAP machine. Up to 70% of patients that use a CPAP experience several issues with affect compliance.
WHAT IS A HOME SLEEP TEST?
This take home system will assess how well you are sleeping from the comfort of your home. Previously patients would go to sleep labs for assessment. This is much more comfortable and can give a more realistic assessment as you will be sleeping at your normal place of rest.
We will lend you our Home Sleep Kit to borrow for a few nights. This will assess your respiratory effort, pulse, oxygen saturation, nasal flow and snoring throughout the night. It’s a super lightweight and easy to use device. We work with a Board Certified Sleep MD to read the results of this test.
