Do you suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
- Do you and your partner sleep in separate rooms due to loud snoring?
- Do you doze off unintentionally during the day?
- Do you often wake up feeling tired or having a headache?
- Do you have problems concentrating for long periods of time?
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be suffering from sleep apnea (Obstructive Seep Apnea or "OSA") and it is essential that you seek the right treatment option.
OSA is a serious medical condition that can have a significant impact on quality of life, placing unnecessary strain on relationships between bed partners, family and the work place. If you have been heard gasping for breath at night, if you snore, are excessively sleepy during the day, or display symptoms of OSA, contact Dr. Steinmetz's office for a consultation.
Some of the symptoms of OSA are:
- Loud snoring
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Depression
- Erectile dysfunction
- GERD
- Fatigue
- Reduced resistance to infection
What causes OSA?
OSA is a breathing disorder, which occurs during sleep, due to the narrowing or total closure of the airway. OSA is when the airway becomes completely blocked and breathing stops. The brain then detects the lack of oxygen and prompts a momentary arousal to draw breath. Although OSA sufferers may experience hundreds of apnea episodes per night, they are unlikely to remember any of them. In fact, if the sufferer lives alone or sleeps separately they may not be aware of their condition, even after many years.
Testing & Treatment
After a consultation with Dr. Steinmetz, she may refer you to a local sleep center for over night monitoring. This testing is most often covered by medical insurance. If a patient is diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Steinmetz will discuss and recommend treatment options, as there are typically 3 options. She works closely with other providers as well, such as sleep medicine physicians, ENTs, and orthodontists.
Dr. Steinmetz is a preferred dentist for the SomnoDent MAS sleep appliance - the comfortable, effective, custom treatment for sleep apnea. This particular appliance is FDA approved for treating mild to moderate sleep apnea, as well as those with serious sleep apnea who can not tolerate CPAP for a variety of reasons.
To learn more about Sleep Apnea please contact Dr. Steinmetz's office to set up a consultation.
You may also read more about the SomnoDent MAS by reading the Patient Brochure or visit Dr. Steinmetz's web site dedicated to the Treatment of Sleep Apnea.