Orthotic tool keeps the airway open, helps you sleep better, can make you healthier!
(Issued Fall 2019) – Do other people tell you they can’t sleep because of your snoring? Are you often tired and irritable?
You may be one of 20 million Americans with sleep apnea, a disorder in which a person stops breathing periodically throughout the night due to airway obstructions. And sleep apnea doesn’t simply mean you’re tired. Long-term, it may actually lead to poor health and a shortened lifespan.
Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics, with 9 offices from Boston to Orleans, says, “While the most common treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP (pronounced see-pap) device, for those with a less severe case, there’s an orthotic device that’s simpler, easier to use, less expensive, less invasive, and more comfortable: a dental appliance similar to a custom mouth guard that holds the jaw in a forward position, decreasing the likelihood of the tongue blocking the airway.”
Dr. Chase says, “If you aren’t getting 7 to 9 hours of seriously restful sleep every night, you may have sleep apnea. While the quantity of sleep is important, it’s the quality of your sleep that you really should pay attention to.” Most people with sleep apnea don’t know they have it; they think they got enough sleep, not realizing they may have had hundreds of REM cycle disruptive apneas (breathing pauses) during the night.
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea*
- Excess Weight – Fat deposits around the airway can obstruct breathing
- Neck Circumference – A thicker neck can mean a narrower airway
- Narrowed Airway – Tonsils or adenoids can block the airway
- Male – Sleep apnea is twice as likely with men as women
- Age – Over 50
- Family History
- Use of alcohol, sedatives, smoking
- Nasal Congestion – Can’t breathe through the nose due to anatomy or allergies
Left untreated, sleep apnea doesn’t only ruin a night’s sleep; it can lead to workplace or motor vehicle accidents, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, increased risk of diabetes — even death. ARCH’s orthodontists assess and evaluate candidates. Treatment options and the appropriate choice depending on the severity of one’s apnea. There’s a fee to examine and treat for sleep apnea, generally not covered by insurance.
ARCH offers free initial consultation and interest-free financing. Courtesy discounts are offered to anyone in the military and their families and veterans, and to municipal employees and their families in towns served by the practice. To arrange an appointment, contact us today at (781) 209-6776.
* Sources: www.HelpGuide.org, www.MayoClinic.org, National Institutes of Health; WebMD
