At West Plains Dental Group, we are pleased to offer oral appliance therapy (OAT) to aid in the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea, and for patients who are CPAP intolerant.
It is estimated that approximately 83 million Americans have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which is about 1 in every 3 Americans.
Common nighttime symptoms of OSA include:
- Loud, chronic snoring
- Witnessed apneas by a bed partner (breathing pauses while sleeping)
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Restless or fragmented sleep
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Tooth grinding habits and/or facial muscle pain from clenching
Common daytime symptoms of OSA include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Poor concentration/memory issues
- Irritability or mood changes
- Fatigue despite “full night” of sleep
There are other risk factors that contribute to OSA such as; obesity, smoking, neck circumference >17 inches, enlarged tonsils/adenoids, small mandible, nasal obstructions, middle age, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, etc.
It is important to be properly screened for sleep apnea, which in most cases, can begin with a simple home sleep test. Speak to your physician about which home sleep test they recommend for you and if they feel your overall health and risk factors warrant screening you for OSA.
At West Plains Dental Group, we would be happy to have a consultation with you about screening for sleep apnea, and while working with your physician, determine whether oral appliance therapy would be an appropriate option for you.
To read more about sleep apnea and the oral appliance we have available to our patients, please visit our website at www.westplainsdental.com.
Feel free to call our office and schedule a consultation on oral appliance therapy!
