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OSA and Snoring Therapy
OSA and Snoring have overlapping signs and symptoms. A large percentage (about 30%) of adults snore. Yet only 5% have Sleep Apnea. It is also important to know that snoring will eventually turn into sleep apnea in majority of patients.
The health implications of untreated SBD's are well documented.
The purpose of treatment for those who suffer from Benign Snoring is to make the snoring less loud. And help prevent development of sleep apnea. Dental appliances fabricated for this purpose are now by far the best choice when it comes to treating such cases.
The treatment for those with Sleep Apnea depends on the severity of their Sleep Apnea. This is determined by doing a night-time Polysomnography test. This is commonly referred to as a "Sleep Study." Several other tests are also used to better understand the severity and the nature of the disease. Involvement of your Primary Care Provider or a Sleep Specialist is also required.
For people with mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliances are highly successful. For those with severe sleep apnea (or heavy moderate cases), the first line of defense is the CPAP (which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). The difficulty with the CPAP has been its fit, comfort and noise level. There are a number of very effective CPAP's on the market now-a-days and sometimes it takes some searching (and more patience) to find the one that suits you best.
In certain cases, a mixed or combination therapy of an Oral Appliance and CPAP is recommended.
It is important to realize that there are several dental devices each with their own strength and weakness. And sometimes it may take some trial and error to find the appliance that works best for you.
Once you have your appliance, your appliance needs to be "titrated" correctly for it to have the most impact on your sleep apnea. Depending on the design of the appliance you can take an active roll in this "titration" process to achieve the results that you feel most comfortable with.
Much like any dental or medical procedure, oral appliance therapy has its own risks associated with it. However the benefits far outweigh the risk of this treatment for sleep apnea. Plus, steps can be taken to help reduce these. The risks will be discussed with you during your consultation.
To get started with your evaluation click here.