Sleep Apnea Therapy

Are you sleepy, irritable, or forgetful during the day? Do you snore at night? Are you CPAP intolerant? Patients who suffer from sleep apnea often feel unrested, even after a full night's sleep. Sleep apnea can cause symptoms like depression, headaches, unexplained sleepiness and fatigue, mood swings, ADHD, bed-wetting, and weight gain to name of few. Sleep apnea patients are 20 times more likely to die prematurely than normal and 4 times more likely to die prematurely than from smoking.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway is blocked during sleep; this can be caused by soft tissues collapsing or misplacement of the jaw. A sleep apnea patient stops breathing for 10 seconds or longer at a time, many times throughout the night, so deep, REM sleep is never fully achieved.

For patients who want a comfortable, simple solution to sleep apnea therapy, Dr. Davis often recommends SomnoMed, an adjustable oral appliance that holds the jaw in position to keep the airway open while you sleep. People who don't like the CPAP mask often respond well to a SomnoMed appliance.

Call to learn more about sleep apnea therapy with Dr. Davis. Our Pocatello dental office serves patients from surrounding communities, including Sun Valley, Pocatello, Boise, and Elko Nevada area, as well as those from out of town.

The following is a quick screening to know if you have a 95% risk of having Sleep Apnea: A cricomental space (negative space that exists from the tip of the chin to the Adam's apple) of 1.5 cm or less, a pharyngeal grade of more than II (being able to see only half the back of the throat when you stick out your tongue), and the presence of an overbite.

source: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 May 15;167(10):1427-32. Epub 2003 Jan 24.

During normal sleep, the muscles that control the tongue and soft palate hold the airway open.	When these muscles relax, the airway narrows. This can lead to snoring and breathing difficulties.	If the muscles relax too much, the airway can collapse and become blocked, obstructing breathing.

"When I was referred to Dr. Davis by another doctor to get help for my snoring problem, I was very skeptical. I had tried various things with no results or improvements. My snoring had continued to get worse, to the point my husband was sleeping down the hall in the guest bedroom. Dr. Davis determined by wearing a mouth piece at night, it would allow air to flow through my airways and not only help stop the snoring, but provide my husband and I with a good quality night of sleep. I am very happy to report that after 2 weeks the snoring has greatly reduced and my husband does not need the guest bedroom. Wearing the mouth piece at night has made a huge difference. I am looking forward to planning a vacation with my family. Dr. Davis and his staff have been wonderful to work with." -Jan Spurgeon

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