Sleep Apnea Appliances

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete blockage of the upper airway during sleep. It is the most common type of sleep apnea and can have significant effects on a person's overall health and quality of life. During sleep, the muscles in the back of the throat relax, causing the airway to narrow or close completely. This obstruction restricts the flow of air and interrupts normal breathing. These episodes of airway obstruction can lead to a decrease in blood oxygen levels, resulting in brief awakenings or arousals throughout the night. However, most people with OSA are unaware of these awakenings. Some common signs of obstructive sleep apnea include loud and chronic snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue, morning headaches, restless or fragmented sleep, and much more. Sleep is so essential to overall health that untreated sleep apnea can severely impact a person's life tremendously.

Think you may have sleep apnea? You can take a quick assessment with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a set of questions that have been used to evaluate the restfulness of a patient. Though it is not a true test that can prove you have sleep apnea, it is certainly can suggest that you are more prone to fall asleep than others and should be evaluated by a physician. The questions are useful assuming that you are sleeping regularly and are in your usual state of health. Patients who are concerned about whether they have sleep apnea can schedule a Sleep Disordered Breathing consultation or Sleep Apnea consultation with WestLake Dental Care so we can guide them in the right direction.

If you sign up for a consultation, we will schedule an in-house sleep study through our affiliate program at Sleeptest.com. You will get a sleep test shipped to your home and review results through a virtual session with the sleep specialist (MD). The specialist will recommend either a CPAP machine, sleep apnea appliance, or surgery. If a sleep apnea oral appliance is recommended, medical insurance will help pay for that and our office bills medical plans.