Snoring can be a Life Threatening Condition!

Snoring can be Life Threatening!

Do you snore? Does your friend or partner snore? Did you know the snoring could be a sign of a life threatening condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea? We hear from all the media advertisements about “anti-snoring devises” however, these store or internet bought appliances could do more damage than good.

You see anti-snore devices may solve some of the problem on the surface but they don’t address the cause. The cause is the danger, and the danger is real! Lack of monitoring of the and proper treatment is the only way to solve the problem.

The American Medical Association estimates that 40% of the adult population suffers from a sleeping disorder that has not been diagnosed. So, what can we do? In the past the rule of thumb was to spend the night at a sleep lab wired up to monitoring equipment. This requires a referral from you primary care physician and approval from your medical insurance provider. Most people do not test for the condition because of the extreme effort required.

If you are tested and it is determined that you do suffer from some form of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) the medical standard of treatment is a CPAP (continues positive air pressure) device. However, there are 3 different levels of OSA they are Mild, Moderate & Severe. If you are diagnosed with Mild or Moderate you can have an oral appliance (fabricated by an experienced dentist) to control the condition. The American Dental Association has taken the forefront in identifying possible sleeping disorders and can refer patients for testing (http://www.aadsm.org/patientresources.aspx).

Here is the good part, you can now have the testing done in the privacy of your own home and your medical insurance (less your normal deductible) will cover the test and the diagnosis.

The sleep medicine Physician will consult with the dental health professional and recommend CPAP Therapy or an oral appliance. Both corrective methods are recognized and covered by most medical insurers and if CPAP Therapy for severe OSA cannot be tolerated by the patient, an oral mouth piece appliance can be made.

For more information or to speak with a local HTC Certified Dental Health Professional, please log onto: www.homesleepdentist.com or call
1-888-929-7533.

Dental health professional interested in obtaining
certification can log onto: www.isleepprogram.com
or call and ask for the dental program directors office.