Ronald E. Rosen, DMD – Blog

Do you snore regularly, gasp for air, have restless sleep, or trouble concentrating during the day?  Are you generally irritable and not sleeping enough?  If so, you may be suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Snoring is the sound of partially obstructed breathing during sleep.  While snoring can be harmless, it can be a sign of  OSA which is a serious medical  condition which is potentially life altering and life threatening.

OSA is when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep.  Breathing stops because the airway collapses and prevents air from getting into the lungs.  This diminished air flow causes disrupted sleep patterns which result in excessive sleepiness and or fatigue during the day.  If OSA is not treated, sufferers have an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and heart attack, stroke, and fatigue related accidents.

Dentists trained in treating OSA can help in the treatment of this serious disorder.  Oral appliances can be constructed to help maintain adequate air flow during sleep.  These devices are similar to orthodontic retainers or sports night guards.  The appropriate appliance attempts to maintain an opened, unobstructed airway during sleep.  The result of this treatment is more restful and peaceful periods of sleep, a reduction of irritability during the day, and improved overall health.

Please feel free to call me with any questions you might have relative to the dental treatment of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 11:12 am and is filed under Sleep Apnea. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.