Dental Sleep Medicine
An area of practice that focuses on the management of sleep-related breathing disorders, including snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), with oral appliance therapy.
It is estimated that there are 70 million adult Americans with sleep disorders (85-90% of them are undiagnosed). Obstructive Sleep Apnea is as prevalent as diabetes or asthma. Untreated, sleep apnea can be dangerous, contributing to:
- Increased rate of driving and work-related accidents
- Increased risk of loss of employment
- Uninsurability
- Stroke, heart attack, and other heart problems
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders
- Marital discord
A CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure machine is the most common way of treating sleep apnea. But, for those who cannot tolerate the CPAP, an oral appliance is a great alternative. Greenhaven Family Dental offers a custom-fitted dental appliance for patients diagnosed with sleep apnea. Similar to a mouth guard, the appliance fits snuggly over the top and bottom teeth, pulling the lower jaw forward and opening the patient's airway while they are sleeping.
Signs that you may have OSA:
- Restless sleep
- Snoring with intermittent pauses
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
- Awakenings due to gasping or choking
- Fragmented, non-refreshing sleep
- Poor memory and clouded intellect
- Personality changes
- Decreased sex drive
- Morning headaches
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a primary physician or sleep disorders physician. Only a medical doctor can diagnose Obstructive Sleep Apnea based on the results of an overnight sleep study.
Click here to watch a video about Dental Sleep Medicine.
For more information, contact us at 218-454-0523.
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