What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. OSA is a serious and lifelong medical condition that affects between 18 and 30 million adults over 18 in the US with approximately 90% of them undiagnosed. OSA is a chronic, lifelong medical condition that can affect your sleep, health and quality of life. It has been linked to hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, work and driving related accidents and stroke. It can have a significant impact on quality of life, placing unnecessary strain on relationships between bed partners, family and in the workplace.
What Causes OSA?
During sleep, muscles relax, including those that control the tongue and throat. Snoring is often a symptom of OSA caused by changes in your upper airway while you sleep. Your soft tissue may vibrate (commonly known as snoring) or it may completely collapse causing you to stop breathing. The soft tissue at the back of throat can sag, narrowing and constricting the airway. Collapsing of the soft tissue is called an Obstructive Apnea and may last for 10 seconds or more.
Symptoms and Risk Factors of OSA
One of the most common signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is loud and chronic (ongoing) snoring. Pauses may occur in the snoring. Choking or gasping may follow the pauses. These brief periods of breathing cessation don’t trigger full alertness, but disrupt sleep enough to leave sufferers groggy in the mornings — and at risk for a number of more serious health problems, often without even realizing there’s a problem. You likely won’t know that you’re having problems breathing or be able to judge how severe the problem is. A family member or bed partner often will notice these problems before you do.
If you or a loved one have OSA or display a combination of the symptoms above, treatment is essential. Ask your physician or dentist about taking an Apnea Risk Evaluation Screening test, which is a simple questionnaire. If you have already been diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, talk to us about using an oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.
Untreated OSA is a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, and is associated with overall decreased quality of life and wellbeing. The “textbook” symptoms primarily include loud snoring, episodes of gasping for air often witnessed by bed partners, excessive daytime sleepiness, and waking up unrefreshed.
How do I get started with treatment?
Getting started with treatment for sleep apnea is easier than it’s ever been. The traditional process for beginning the treatment process is:
1. Talk to your physician about your symptoms. If you don’t have a sleep physician, ask your primary care physician or our office for a referral.
2. Your sleep physician will order a sleep study, and provide you with the diagnosis afterwards.The physician willalso determine the most effective treatment option for you.
3. If diagnosed with mild or moderate sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea is an option for you. Dr. Chang will work with your sleep physician to create an oral appliance to treat your sleep apnea. He will conduct a thorough oral exam to confirm your oral health status, as well as ensure you are dentally appropriate for the device. Your teeth will be digitally scanned (in stead of taking gooey dental impressions) and a bite registration will be taken to fabricate the oral appliance.The appliance will be fitted by Dr. Chang, who will instruct you on how to insert and remove it by yourself, including how to clean and care for it.
How does the oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea work?
The oral appliance for sleep apnea treatment is worn during sleep. The appliance has two components that fit over the upper and lower teeth. These oral appiances are comfortable and simple for patients to use. That is the reason many patients prefer the oral appliance therapy to other treatment options. The oral appliance therapy works by moving the lower jaw slightly forward. This movement tightens the soft tissue and muscles of the upper airway, which prevents obstructive apneas while you sleep. This optimal position of the lower jaw prevents the patient’s airway from collapsing during sleep.
In patientswith sleep apnea who either don’t respond to or tolerate treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the oral appliancea can be very helpful treatment alternative. With a sleep apnea diagnosis, most insurance companies cover the cost of the oral appliance.
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