Treat Your Snoring And Sleep Apnea In The Dental Office

Snoring occurs in approximately 40% of all adults over age 40.  Of these,9% of men and 4% of women have signs of sleep apnea on testing.  Sleep apnea is as prevalent as diabetes or asthma.  If you have restless sleep and your partner says your snore with intermittent pauses;if you have excessive daytime sleepiness;if you awaken due to gasping or choking;if you feel that your memory is poor and your intellect clouded;if your partner seems to think your personality is changing or your have a decreased sex drive;if you have morning headaches,then you have a very high probability of having OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea).

Sleep Apnea can lead to daytime sleepiness and increased chance for car accidents by 3 to 7 times.  Sleep Apnea patients have 5 times greater incidence of heart attack.  Chronic snoring triples your risk of dying during sleep.  Weight gain is also more prevalent with people who have sleep apnea. 

The definitive diagnosis of Sleep Apnea is usually made after a Polysomnogram (Sleep Study) ordered and examined by a physician.  Specially trained dentists knowledgeable of this medical condition play a supportive role to the physician by providing properly fitted dental orthotics (sleep appliances) which are worn by the patient at night to keep the airway open and greatly lessen apnic events (not breathing for periods lasting longer than 10 seconds).   The effectiveness of these appliances for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea has been documented in the medical world.

As a dentist and member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine,I often refer patients with the tell-tell signs of sleep apnea and reported snoring to physicians.  Many of these patients end up using C-PAP breathing machines at night while some are referred back to me for oral appliances as an alternative treatment.  By the way,they usually stop snoring! 

Phillip Hall is a practicing general dentist in St. George.  He is also head of the St. George Craniofacial Treatment Center,and operates St. George Dental Careers,a successful dental assisting school.  Appointments for general dentistry or dentures call 656-1111.  For sleep apnea appliances or TMJ problems call 634-8338.