In October, 2011 Sleep Apnea hit close to home. I awoke in the middle of the night with my heart beating irregularly, in a state of Atrial Fibrillation. I went to the emergency room of our local hospital and was admitted.  I spent the next two days in the hospital while my heart converted back to normal rhythm through the use of IV medication.  It turns out my heart was reacting to a lack of oxygen caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Left untreated, Atrial Fibrillation can lead to blood clot formation, which can cause a heart attack or stroke.  All these things, as well as many other conditions can be caused by Sleep Apnea and the resulting lack of oxygen to your body.

It has been estimated that 60% of men and 40% of women between the ages of 40 and 60 years of age snore. Snoring occurs when there is a partial obstruction of the airway which causes the palatal tissues to vibrate. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway is completely blocked for certain periods of time. As many as 20 million people in North America may have sleep apnea. Snoring is a social problem, particularly for the spouse, but obstructive sleep apnea poses a significant health risk  in that it can lead to irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

The signs and symptoms of OSA include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, gasping or choking during the night, non-refreshed sleep, fragmented sleep, clouded memory, irritability, personality changes, decreased sex drive, impotence, and morning headaches.

Factors that affect obstructive sleep apnea are Age, Obesity, Alcohol, and the use of Sedative Hypnotics (sleeping pills)

Children can also snore and suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Often they are highly allergic and their airway is blocked due to enlarged adenoids, tonsils or swollen nasal mucosa.

The most common treatment for OSA has been the use of a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine.  Many patients find that they cannot, or choose not to wear the CPAP, and therefore choose the risks associated with OSA.  Sometimes the removal of either the excess palatal tissue or the uvula has been performed as a treatment option.  The American Sleep Disorder Association (ASDA) has endorsed oral appliance therapy as the third currently acceptable treatment for snoring and sleep apnea. For cases of mild to moderate OSA, a oral appliance will be the treatment of choice. In severe cases of OSA, a CPAP is the preferred treatment.  The oral appliance may then be used to use less air pressure with the CPAP (or instead of the CPAP if the patient cannot or refuses to wear the CPAP).

We feel we have an important role to play in the treatment of patients with snoring and sleep apnea.  Obstructive sleep apnea can be a life threatening situation for the patient.  Snoring is also a serious social problem for the spouse.   At the present time, obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition that is being controlled and treated mainly by the medical profession. Despite the fact that the American Sleep Disorder Association has endorsed oral appliance therapy as an acceptable treatment method for snoring and sleep apnea, the vast majority of the medical doctors are not aware of the value of oral appliances.

We want to make the public more aware of the health risks associated with snoring and sleep apnea. As dental professionals we have a responsibility to educate the public and the medical profession about the important role that dentists and oral appliances play in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.  Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a medical problem and the diagnosis must be made by a medical doctor or sleep physician (pulmonologist) who is specially trained in the area of sleep medicine.  We work with these professional to diagnose and provide the best treatment for each patient.