What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
OSA is when someone stops breathing in middle of his or her sleep. One of the main causes is when one sleeps, they lose muscle tone. When the muscles in the back of their throat, that keep the airway open go limp, no air can pass from their nose and mouth to their lungs. When this happens, they can stop breathing for many seconds at a time!
When the brain senses a lack of oxygen (from not breathing,) it wakes the person up just enough to get those throat muscles tight, the airway open, and resume the airflow. This is called a micro-arousal and it completely disrupts normal sleeping patterns. This constant struggle to breath is why people with OSA often wake up more tired than when they went to sleep.
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 basically two methods used to treat OSA.
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Wearing a CPAP machine. That’s the mask that most people are familiar with. It’s the one that makes people sound like Darth Vader. While it is still considered the gold standard for treating OSA, it is not right for everyone.
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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
