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Woodstock General and Implant Dentistry on May 22, 2017



    Accurate Diagnosis for Sleep Apnea

    The key to providing you with the best treatment for your sleep apnea is in getting an accurate diagnosis. There are two forms of sleep apnea, and they differ in severity and how best to treat them:

    Central Sleep Apnea occurs when signals from the brain fail to reach the muscles responsible for maintaining your nighttime breathing. This condition is less common and requires advanced treatment from specialists and neurologists.

    Obstructive Sleep Apnea can develop as the muscles of the throat, the tongue or other soft tissues relax and block airways during the night. This is what most people refer to as sleep apnea, and can often be effectively treated by our team.

    While central sleep apnea requires advanced treatment from specialists and neurologists, obstructive sleep apnea can often be effectively treated by our team. It is vital that you undergo accurate testing to determine the form of sleep apnea that you may be suffering from. Inaccurate diagnoses can lead to improper treatment and an increase in your symptoms.

    If you believe you are suffering from sleep apnea, you should not hesitate to receive an accurate diagnosis. Dr. Claudia Patch and Dr. Bethany Wong have undergone advanced training with Sleep Group Solutions to provide personalized treatment that helps patients manage sleep apnea and improve their quality of life. Together with certified physicians, our team can help you determine the cause of your sleep issues and how best to treat them.

    The Testing Process

    The testing process is simple and can be completed in a matter of days. You’ll begin by filling out a questionnaire that will help us begin to diagnose your condition. Based on the answers you provide, we can identify certain risk factors you may be facing and possible complications you may encounter during treatment.

    We will then provide you with a take-home test. Your sleep breathing patterns may be measured using advanced acoustic reflection technology known as pharyngometry, which determines the air volume of your airways.

    You may also be asked to complete a sleep study with the take-home Apnea Risk Evaluation System or ARES™. This system is specially designed for comfort and the ability to be worn in all sleep positions. The device can store three nights of data that measure your blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, airflow, snoring levels, and head position and movement. A certified physician will examine these readings to properly diagnose your sleep condition.

    Treatment

    Once we have an accurate depiction of your exact sleep breathing issues, we can design your specific treatment plan.

    If you are suffering from only mild to moderate sleep apnea, we can provide you with a customized oral device.

    These appliances reposition your jaw to keep the airway open at night.  A month after you have begun treatment, you will complete another sleep test. This data allows us to make sure your treatment is successfully improving your sleep and health.

    For milder cases of sleep apnea, we can also recommend lifestyle and dietary changes meant to improve your overall health. Obesity is often directly linked to obstructive sleep apnea, so by losing weight, you can reduce the effects of your sleep apnea.

    We highly recommend that all sleep apnea patients continue to undergo yearly monitoring to protect their long-term health. Don’t let your sleep apnea become more than just the snore – contact us today and schedule a consultation.

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