ORAL APPLIANCE THERAPY FOR SNORING, SLEEP APNEA & CPAP PROBLEMS
|
Send information about this site to a friend or relative.
office newsAugust, 2008 Most insurance companies will cover a large percentage of the cost of oral appliance therapy if the therapy is performed by a properly trained and qualified dentist.
|
overview of sleep disordered breathing problemsObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a treatable disorder in which a person stops breathing many times during the night. OSA is associated with serious health problems and a diminished quality of life. Snoring is a strong indication that OSA may be present. Sleep and BreathingDuring normal breathing, air
passes through the nose and the flexible structures in the back of Sleep-disordered breathing is a term which indicates that breathing is affected due to the sleeping process itself where the throat muscles collapse and prevent adequate breathing. This, in turn, disrupts sleep creating a condition where both sleep and breathing are dangerously affected. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are both considered sleep-disordered breathing events.
|
our patients are talking...“Before treatment I was falling asleep at red lights. As with many problems with slow onset, I didn’t realize how bad I felt until treatment allowed me to sleep, initially four hours per night. Treatment has actually changed my life. Snoring was constant and my apnea index was 42, indicating an apnea episode of 42 times an hour. This meant I did not get deep sleep prior to treatment. I usually drank two full pots of regular coffee a day, just to stay wake. I would take a nap almost every day from 3 to 4 PM so that I could function. I had a CPAP for approximately eight months prior to the dental device. The pressure on the CPAP was at a maximum setting and was intolerable. After trying to use straps to keep the air from escaping out my mouth, I decided to try a dental device if only to lower the pressure. Upon getting my oral appliance, I was readmitted to the sleep lab. They suggested I try this appliance alone and they would wake me if I needed to add the CPAP. The dental device by itself cured my apnea and my snoring. It is the only treatment I have used since 1991. With the dental device, I sleep 6 - 8 hours per night. I have not needed a nap. I avoid caffeine as much as possible and only have occasional events of snoring. The snoring never lasts the entire night and rarely has a negative effect on my sleep. I was initially impressed that Dr. Rogers would try the appliance himself so he knew first hand about how comfortable the device would be to use. He has managed my sleep apnea since 1991. I am on my fourth generation appliance and each one has been more comfortable and easier to tolerate. I have been re-tested since being under Dr. Rogers’ care and my apnea is within normal range. Dr. Rogers has been an integral part of the life-changing control of my sleep. I would highly recommend Dr. Rogers for concerned, professional care.” Don ThomasAddison, PA
|
||||
©2006. Pittsburgh Dental Sleep Medicine. All Rights Reserved Site designed and hosted by AdLIB DESIGN |
||||||
the throat,
such as the soft palate, uvula and tongue. While you are awake, the
muscles in these structures hold the airway open. Normally, when you
fall asleep, these muscles relax but still hold the airway open, and healthy
sleep can occur without disruption. 
