This is how the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine defines Obstructive Sleep Apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the soft tissue in a person’s throat repeatedly collapses and blocks the airway during sleep. These partial reductions and complete pauses in breathing typically last between 10 and 30 seconds, but can persist for one minute or longer. These pauses can happen hundreds of times a night, leading to abrupt reductions in blood oxygen levels. The brain alerts the body to its lack of oxygen, causing a brief arousal from sleep that restores normal breathing. The result is a fragmented quality of sleep that often leads to excessive daytime sleepiness. Most people with OSA snore loudly and frequently, with periods of silence when airflow is reduced or blocked. They then make choking, snorting or gasping sounds when their airway reopens.
Since the muscle tone of the body ordinarily relaxes during sleep, and since, at the level of the throat, the human airway is composed of walls of soft tissue, which can collapse, it is easy to understand how breathing can be obstructed during sleep.
The individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. Sleep apnea is recognized as a problem by others witnessing a scary episode.
Symptoms may be present for years, even decades without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.
Whether treating children early, or treating adults later, we work with your physician, using functional oral appliances to help develop those suffering from snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is the best way to ensure a healthy long life!
How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Work?
Custom made oral appliances reposition the tongue and lower jaw forward during sleep to maintain an open airway. Dr. Abel has had extensive training in dental sleep medicine, and knows how to select, fabricate, fit, and adjust these devices, which look like mouth guards, to help his patients with snoring and sleep apnea problems breathe freely during sleep.
Who should use an oral appliance?
Oral Appliance Therapy is indicated for mild to moderate OSA patients if they prefer it to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), the standard treatment therapy, cannot tolerate CPAP, or are unable to use positional therapy or weight loss to control their apnea.
Oral appliances are also recommended for severe OSA patients if they cannot tolerate CPAP.
If you or someone you know snores, please call us today at: (914) 241-2242 for a complimentary consultation. Snoring could be Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a potentially life threatening disorder that can easily be treated. You could be saving your own life or the life of someone you know.
Sincerely,
The entire staff at Westchester Dental Care
Committed to your overall health
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