Lafayette, Colorado

Sleep Apnea

 

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects breathing during sleep.  Apnea comes from a Greek word that stands for “want of breath.” Sleep apnea is a chronic health problem and is also a progressive condition which means it can potentially worsen over time.  These cessations of breathing can last from ten to thirty seconds and upwards to as much as four hundred per night in those with severe sleep apnea.  Some individuals are awakened every thirty seconds a night with another apnea episode.  Sleep apnea is a serious health problem that can be life threatening if left undiagnosed and untreated.  There are three kinds of sleep apnea-obstructive, central and mixed, of which obstructive sleep apnea is the most widespread. 

 

Obstructive sleep apnea can be mild, moderate or severe.  It can easy go from mild to moderate or moderate to severe.  Sleep apnea is not “age-specific” and affects individuals of every age, including children.  Both men and women develop sleep apnea although is most common in men than women, especially middle-age men who are overweight.  Part of this is believed to be due to the fact that men have a thicker neck circumference than women.  The following are some statistics regarding this surprisingly common problem.

 

• Sleep apnea is prevalent in as many as an estimated 18 million Americans alone.  This statistic denotes that approximately 1 in every 15 Americans have a case of sleep apnea.

• Two to four percent of all Americans have an undiagnosed case of sleep apnea.  This accounts for about 1 in 50 individuals being undiagnosed.

• People that are afflicted with sleep apnea face a steep increase in chances of being a part of a traffic accident.  Due to the sleeplessness and lack of ability to concentrate that are associated with apnea, sufferers are six times more likely to die in a car accident.

• More than 263,000 children per year undergo tonsillectomy most of these operations are performed due to the presence of sleep apnea in the children that is caused by the tonsils obstructing their airway.

• People that have untreated case of sleep apnea face a risk of stroke that is four times as likely as those who are not afflicted.   Untreated sleep apnea sufferers are also three times as likely to have heart disease.

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 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a medical condition that needs to be diagnosed by a physician. 

 

Treatment options:

• EMA- Elastic Mandibular Advancement oral appliance is a customized removable appliance created for the noninvasive treatment of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).  The appliance is designed to both advance the mandible and open the bite to allow for less restricted air flow during sleep. 

 

The EMA device helps promote a deeper, more restful sleep by preventing snoring and relieving the symptoms of OSA.  The EMA does not interfere with breathing through the mouth, even in cases of congested nasal passages.  It has many options for advancement with nine strap lengths (13 mm - 21 mm) and four different elastic tension options, indicated by color.  The shorter the strap the further the mandible is advance.  The 36 different straps allow for the most effective repositioning of the jaw with maximum comfort.  Due to the varying elastic bands, non-restricted lateral /protrusive movement is possible while wearing the device. 

 

The EMA is indicated for patients with either a full or partial set of natural teeth.

            

• TAP – Thornton Adjustable Positioner oral appliance is used for the treatment of snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).  Base on the same principle as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the TAP was designed to keep the airway open to allow for air to pass.  A constricted or collapsed airway causes snoring and OSA.  The TAP device holds the lower jaw in a forward position, maintaining a clear airway to reduce snoring and improve breathing. 

 

Each tap device consists of an upper and lower tray that fit over the teeth.  A hook mechanism attached to the upper tray fits into a socket attached to the lower tray and positions the lower jaw forward.  An adjustment key enables the patient to adjust the protrusion of the lower jaw while wearing the device until a comfortable and effective position is achieved.