SLEEP APNEA THERAPY
Sleep Apnea, a serious yet often undiagnosed medical condition, can cause symptoms like chronic fatigue, loud snoring, unexpected weight gain, and morning headaches. Dr. Asher Diamond's expertise in Dental Sleep Medicine offers a solution through Oral Appliance Therapy, utilizing a custom-fit Mandibular Advancement Device as an effective treatment for Sleep Apnea.
What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition where an individual's breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat, which keep the airway open, relax and obstruct airflow from the nose and mouth to the lungs. This disruption in breathing can occur multiple times, leading to a lower oxygen level in the blood. The brain responds to this lack of oxygen by waking the person up just enough to tighten the throat muscles, open the airway, and resume breathing. This process, known as a micro-arousal, disturbs normal sleep patterns, often resulting in individuals with OSA waking up feeling more fatigued than before they slept.
OSA is dangerous in it’s own right. It’s symptoms include:
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Snoring
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Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
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Headache in the morning
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Weight gain
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Hypertension
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Decreased sex drive
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Acid reflux
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Frequent urination during sleep hours
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Trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, depression, or irritability
It can also makes many existing medical condition worse. It has been linked to increased risk of heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and a whole slew of other nasty ailments. And let’s, not forget car accidents (people who have sleep apnea have a five times greater chance of auto accidents due to drowsiness.)
How is OSA diagnosed?
OSA can only be diagnosed with a sleep study. We work closely with board certified pulmonologists who use the latest technologies to diagnose patients in the comfort of their own homes. No more overnight testing in an uncomfortable and strange environment.
Where do you come in?
There are primarily two methods used to treat OSA.
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The first is the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. This is a mask that helps regulate breathing during sleep, but while it's considered the 'gold standard' in OSA treatment, it's not suitable for everyone due to its potential discomfort.
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Using a mandibular advancement device. This is where we come in.
What is a Mandibular Advancement Device?
It is a custom oral appliance that holds the bottom jaw forward. When you gently move the bottom jaw forward, the tongue follows. This helps keep the muscles and tissue in the back of the throat from collapsing, allowing easier breathing.
The oral appliance is worn in the mouth, over the teeth (similar to a night guard), to treat snoring and OSA. Oral appliances may be used alone or in combination with other means of treating OSA. These means include general health improvements, CPAP therapy, weight management and surgery.
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment of OSA with minimal side-effects. It has several advantages over CPAP therapy. It is:
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Comfortable
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Easy to wear
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Quiet
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Portable
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Discrete
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Easy to care for
