Sleep Disorders

Common Sleep Disorders:
Treatment With An Oral Appliance

There are approximately 70 medically diagnosable sleep disorders affecting millions of people today. Sleep deprivation can have severe side effects: irritability, confusion, memory problems, blurred vision, diabetes, nausea, psychosis, hypertension and more. Sleep disturbances affect productivity, intimate relationships, and the overall health and well-being of those people experiencing sleep deprivation. Over 90 million people in the U.S. suffer from sleep disorders. A common sleep disorder called Bruxism, or clenching and grinding of the teeth, can lead to TMJ problems, headaches, and tooth loss. Snoring can be an indication of an underlying problem called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In OSA, the upper airway collapses during sleep, resulting in restriction of airflow. It is estimated that 40% of adults snore. Individual episodes of sleep apnea can last for seconds or over a minute and frequently occur hundreds of times per night. It is believed that 90% of the population suffering OSA have not been diagnosed or treated. A 2005 study found that untreated OSA increased the risk of cardiovascular morbidity by 287%. The medical side effects of untreated sleep apnea are mounting and range from snoring and headaches to stroke, diabetes, hypertension, weight gain, and GERD. Sleep apnea is a killer. Treatment saves lives. Almost every person diagnosed with OSA is introduced to a treatment called CPAP or Continuous positive Air Pressure. It works by forcing air through the nose and into the throat. While the CPAP approach is 100% effective when used, the rate of CPAP intolerance is very high and remains a highly non-compliant treatment. Lifestyle modification and surgery offer some relief. More recently, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recognized oral appliances as a first line of treatment. At Lake Oconee Dentistry, Dr. David C. Bradley is taking the time to educate his patients on oral appliance therapy and the effective use of a custom-made repositioning device to treat snoring and sleep apnea. The advantages are obvious. A noninvasive solution to eliminate snoring, reduce apnea and improve the quality of sleep is available to you. We can help you. Call us: 706-453-1333.