Sleep Apnea – Are You At Risk?

Sleep apnea is very common, as common as adult diabetes, and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and health care professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes.

Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist. These include:

• Sleep Hygiene
• CPAP
• Dental appliances
• Nasal canulas

About Dental Appliances

Dental appliances are becoming more frequently used. They have advantages, especially in patients who cannot tolerate CPAP and nasal canulas. Some cases of sleep apnea can be so severe as to require both.

Other advantages are:

• No sleep study is required; often sleep apnea can be diagnosed from medical history only
• Appliances are easily constructed
• Break in period is short
• Wide range of appliances available
• Covered by insurance in conjunction with sleep study

Call us at the office to find out more!