The short answer to this question is, absolutely we do. Over the last 20 years the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSA by dentists has drastically increased as the awareness and understanding of this life-threatening condition has evolved. Various treatment options have been used to treat patients with OSA, including lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and reducing alcohol consumption; non-surgical treatment, such as continuous positive airway pressure CPAP and oral appliances OA ; and lastly, more invasive surgery.
Mandibular advancement devices are designed to advance the mandible forward and are the most commonly used oral appliance to treat sleep apnea. In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the MAD will also improve if not eliminate snoring! Snoring is caused by the vibration of relaxed respiratory structures and the resulting sound is due to obstructed air movement during breathing. Since the oral appliance helps to open the airway and remove obstructions, the result is less snoring and a quieter night.
Not all people who snore have OSA, but these appliances can also be used to treat those who suffer from snoring alone.
In addition to reviewing the symptoms and risk factors listed above, there are a few questionnaires provided below that will help evaluate if you have OSA. For an official diagnosis of OSA, you will need to see a sleep specialist who will use Polysomnography in a sleep center overnight, or they may allow you to do a home Sleep Apnea test kit.
The data gathered from these tests will determine if you have OSA and it will also tell you how severe it is.
