Sleep Apnea

You deserve a great night’s sleep, every night.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea literally means a lapse in breath while sleeping. We treat obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. With this condition, airflow is blocked because of obstruction, generally caused by either oral structures in the way of the air path or throat muscles that relax to the point that the airway collapses.

Snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea. It’s the sound of tissues vibrating as air tries to pass through. People can experience hundreds of OSA episodes each night. When the brain senses a lack of oxygen, it tells the body to wake up and breathe. Some patients wake up choking and coughing or gasping for breath, while others don’t fully wake, but never fall deeply asleep. If you do not experience deep REM sleep, you cannot feel rested.

How is my condition diagnosed?

We use the WatchPAT, a convenient piece of equipment that will allow you to record a sleep study in the comfort and privacy of your own home. The armband structure with finger pads is easy for patients to use and much more comfortable than most sleep lab equipment. WatchPAT has FDA clearance and can record important information for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

How is sleep apnea treated?

If the results of your WatchPAT study show that you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor at Sommers & Loch will prescribe a fitted oral appliance by SomnoMed. The easy-to-wear, comfortable mouthpiece holds the lower jaw slightly forward and keeps loose oral structures out of the way of airflow to reduce or eliminate the potential for obstruction.

Will SomnoMed work if CPAP didn’t?

The gold standard for medical treatment of sleep apnea is the CPAP system, which stands for continuous positive air pressure system. CPAP features a facemask, tube, and central unit. Some patients are CPAP intolerant. The mask may not fit properly or it may cause a sense of claustrophobia. The noise of the central unit’s compressor may disrupt sleep. In some cases, patients complain that sleeping on their backs all night is uncomfortable and impractical. CPAP intolerant patients often find that an oral appliance like SomnoMed provides complete relief.

Make Your Appointment Today!

We want to give you and your loved ones a thousand reasons to smile. Schedule your family’s appointments in our inviting Norwalk, Ohio dental office by calling 419-668-3606 today. Dr. Norman Sommers, Dr. Adam Sommers, Dr. James Loch, and our professional dental care team serve patients from Monroeville, Milan, Willard, Sandusky, Huron, and surrounding communities.Thank you for visiting, and we look forward to seeing you in the office soon!

Sleep Apnea

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