Snoring & Sleep Apnea
If you are experience snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, keeping your family awake with your sounds of slumber is the least of your concerns. If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can lead to serious medical problems, such as an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and other serious illnesses. Choosing a dentist who is qualified to handle sleep disorders and willing to work with your physician is essential to your health or the health of your loved one.
Neither snoring nor sleep apnea should be taken lightly, as your health could be at stake. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that is associated with cardiac problems, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, ED, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, and numerous other medical concerns. Current research explores the complex interrelationships between sleep apnea and the aforementioned medical problems. Management by a dentist should always involve your family physician and any specialists who are involved in your healthcare.
Legally, any dentist can treat snoring and/or sleep apnea with an oral appliance; that does not mean, however, that your overall health is being addressed. Because no special qualifications are required, it is your responsibility to choose your dentist wisely. A qualified sleep-disorders dentist should have:
- Extensive knowledge of sleep medicine and oral appliance research.
- Training in oral appliance therapy.
- Experience with multiple appliance types.
- Relationships with local sleep labs and sleep physicians.
- Knowledge of emerging trends.
- Ability to derive maximum insurance benefits for you.
- Willingness to work with other professionals.
- A proven follow-up system to ensure healthy, long-term results.
If you think you may have sleep apnea, please contact us for a consultation. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and cannot tolerate a CPAP device, our office can help. Our doctors are educated and have extensive experience treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Contact us for more information on sleep apnea or to schedule a consultation.
