Serving Lynn, Lynnfield, Wakefield, Revere, Melrose, & Saugus, MA

Sleep Apnea

Dr. Stephen Petinge is now offering Sleep Apnea treatment and appliances right here at Petinge Dental. We can administer an at-home sleep test and schedule a virtual consult with a sleep physician (in the event that you don’t currently have a Primary Care Provider (PCP).  We also fabricate sleep devices here in the office – they are also a great anti-snoring device. The in-house appliance can be used to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. 

Sleep Apnea Device

About OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea)

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Health Problems

Snoring

Untreated snoring often worsens over time and may develop into OSA. Complications may include: 

  • Hypertension
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Daytime Drowsiness
  • Heart Attack
  • Memory Loss
Sleep Apnea Social Risks
Sleep Apnea & Snoring Impact on Bed Partner

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are very common breathing disorders.

Between the ages of 30 and 70, 34% of men and 17% of women have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

These conditions share a common physical cause during sleep, the muscles relax and partially close the upper airway located behind the tongue (pharynx). Breathing effort is required to open the airway causing vibration of the soft tissues of the throat. 

59% of adult men snore

46% of adult women snore

54% of couples are affected by snoring

Snoring
Snoring

Vibration of the tongue and soft tissues caused by partial collapse of the airway.

Oobstructive Sleep Apnea
OSA

Partial or complete obstruction of the airway caused by soft tissue collapse.

Chronic snoring is associated with a decrease in oxygen in the blood which tires the heart. Sometimes brief unconscious arousals (micro-arousals) occur which interrupt restful sleep. The sound can be as loud as the sound of a truck.

Talk to your dentist or doctor about diagnosis

Treating your snoring and OSA will improve your quality of life and help prevent serious health problems. If you snore on a regular basis, your dentist or doctor can help you get diagnosed.  

A simple test can be done in a sleep center or at home to assess the seriousness of the problem. Depending on the diagnosis, you may be given a prescription for the appropriate treatment.  

Treatment Options

Change in lifestyle

» Lose excess weight
» Exercise
» Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills
» Sleep on your side
» Quit smoking

Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD)

A MAD is a dental appliance that holds your lower jaw (mandible) slightly forward as you sleep. This keeps the airway open by pulling the tongue and soft tissues forward. 

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

You wear a mask over your nose and/or mouth connected to a machine that delivers a constant flow of air to keep your airway open. CPAP is the most common treatment for OSA, however many patients cannot tolerate it. 

Surgery

Usually only an option after other treatments have failed. However, for a small number of people with certain jaw structure problems, it’s a good first option.  

Custom-made Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)

Custom MADs are a convenient. immediate, and non-invasive treatment option to improve airflow and reduce vibration (snoring) and airway closures (apnea). Their effectiveness has been demonstrated by numerous case studies.

The treatment of snoring and OSA with mandibular advancement devices can be managed by your qualified dentist.

Custom-made MADs are recommended for:

  • » Snoring without OSA
  • » Mild to moderate OSA
  • » Severe OSA when the patient cannot tolerate CPAP
MADs can also be used as an alternative to CPAP during periods of travel or in combination with CPAP.

FAQs

When your breathing stops due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), your brain will automatically arouse you enough to start breathing again. These constant arousals result in fragmented sleep that robs your body of the rest it needs to function properly during the day. 

OSA is classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of stops (apnea) or slow breathing (hypopnea) per hour.

Long term symptoms:

  • Increased risk for hypertension and cardio-vascular disease
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Compromised immune system
  • Irritability 
  • Learning and memory problems
  • Poor mental and emotional health

OSA is tested by performing a sleep study, either in the comfort of your home or in a sleep lab, where a medical recording device is used to record the involuntary body functions that occur during sleep. 

For OSA, a sleep study needs to record the following: 

  • Airflow and respiratory effort
  • Blood oxygen
  • Body position
  • Snoring

Not necessarily. You may be eligible for a home sleep study. 

A home sleep study is similar to a typical laboratory sleep study except that it is performed in the comfort of your own home using a small portable-monitoring device, such as the MediByte®, that you wear while you sleep.

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