Sleep Apnea

Do you or your partner suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, irritability or snoring? If you answered yes to any of the above, you may be among the 100-200 million people who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA.) OSA, a chronic condition, results from a partial or complete collapse of the airway during sleep. Symptoms of OSA can range from annoying, such as snoring, to life threatening when a person actually stops breathing for up to 10 seconds during sleep. According to Dr. J. Michael Owen, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, “Dentists are often the first professional to become aware of a potential problem since they are usually in contact with their patients more frequently than are physicians.” Once a diagnosis of OSA was made by a sleep medicine specialist, the course of treatment recommended was often a device to provide continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. While these devices can be highly effective when used properly, many patients find them to be cumbersome and difficult to sleep in, thus limiting their effectiveness. However, studies have found that specially crafted dental appliances worn during sleep have significantly reduced or eliminated many symptoms experienced by those with OSA. These appliances reposition the jaw and tongue to improve airflow. Because these appliances are much less intrusive than a CPAP there is a greater likelihood of compliance and alleviation of symptoms. Dr. Castor has been trained to recognize the signs of OSA and can answer many of your questions regarding treatment options, if a diagnosis of OSA is made. If you or your partner suffer from symptoms of OSA, please don’t hesitate to speak with Dr. Castor and let him help you get a good night’s sleep.

(credit to www.somnomed.com, Academy of General Dentistry and Dentaltown, Vol.10, Issue 9)