Sleep Apnea
You Deserve Restful Sleep
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes your oxygen levels to drop while you are sleeping. There are 2 types of sleep apnea: Obstructive and Central. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by a physical obstruction of your airway, while you are asleep, which results in cutting off your oxygen supply. Essentially, you are suffocating. Central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by a malfunction in the brain that sends the signal for us to breathe. You basically "forget" to breathe. CSA is more complicated to treat than OSA. Some patients can have a combination of both OSA and CSA.
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Many patients never realize that they might have a potential sleep apnea issue because they may not experience any common symptoms such as excessive daytime fatigue. This is why screening by a knowledgeable healthcare provider is crucial.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire helps to assess daytime fatigue - a risk factor for sleep apnea.
Are you at risk?
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Health Risks for Untreated Sleep Apnea
Diseases Related to Untreated Sleep Apnea
Stroke
High blood pressure
Coronary artery disease
Congestive heart failure
High cholesterol
Asthma
Diabetes (Type 2)
Obesity
GERD/Reflux
Fatty liver
Symptoms of
Untreated Sleep Apnea
Poor quality sleep
Daytime sleepiness
Frequent nighttime urination
Mood disturbances
Loud snoring
Gasping for air during sleep
Difficulty paying attention
Waking with a dry mouth
Sexual dysfunction
Morning headache
How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
A sleep physician will order a sleep test (either in-home or in-lab study). Based upon the results, the sleep physician will make a diagnosis. Only a sleep medicine physician can make this diagnosis. A dentist cannot diagnose sleep apnea.
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Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
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Depending on the severity and type of sleep apnea, your sleep physician will make recommendations for positional therapy, CPAP therapy, dietary counseling and oral appliance therapy. Dr. Wang is trained to interpret your sleep study results and to guide you through many of the therapy options.
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Oral Appliance Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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Though it can be a great option for some people, oral appliance therapy is not appropriate for everyone. If you have primarily central sleep apneas, oral appliance therapy is not for you. To determine whether you are candidate for a sleep appliance, Dr. Wang will need to review the results from your sleep study, complete a thorough oral exam, and determine which therapy options are most appropriate for you.
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Oral sleep appliances work by locking your lower jaw in a more forward (protruded) position while you are sleeping. This is typically accomplished with a custom made 2-piece oral appliance worn on both the top and bottom, that can be either connected by hinges/elastics or 2 separate pieces. Dr. Wang will discuss appliance design options based upon your exam findings. Once a design is approved, Dr. Wang will determine an optimal starting therapeutic position using the Airway Metrics system and digital scanning technology to take impressions.
Oral Appliance Therapy Risks and Benefits
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Oral appliance therapy has risks just like anything else. Oral appliance therapy can result in bite changes. Morning occlusal guides and simple exercises are ways to minimize those bite changes, but changes are almost certain to occur with long-term use. Bite changes are not necessarily detrimental, especially if the trade off is that you can keep your brain oxygenated while you sleep.
Oral appliance therapy can also make your obstructive sleep apnea worse. This is why Dr. Wang will work closely with your sleep physician, after appliance delivery, to confirm that the appliance is helping you.
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Dr. Wang feels that it is important for patients to fully understand these risks prior to starting oral appliance therapy, so that patients can make an educated decision.
One major benefit of oral appliance therapy is that many patients find it to easier to use consistently than alternatives such as CPAP therapy. Obstructive sleep apnea can result in serious long-term health risks if left ​untreated. It is important to work with your healthcare providers to find an effective way to manage your obstructive sleep apnea.
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Dr. Wang is currently the only provider in the State of Illinois who has attained Diplomate status with both the American Board of Orofacial Pain and the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine. If you have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, tried CPAP therapy and it's not working for you, contact us to determine if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy. Please note that oral appliance therapy is not appropriate for those diagnosed with primary Central Sleep Apnea.
If you have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea contact us to discuss treatment options.
Call us today: 773.873.6372