Orthodontist Offers Solutions to Sleep Apnea

Of course your Orthodontist can straighten your teeth. But now he may also be able to help you get a better night’s sleep.

While sleep apnea is most often treated with CPAP therapy — a face mask and hose pumping a prescribed dose of oxygen from a CPAP device, Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics says several patients have been treated successfully using a much more comfortable solution to: Oral orthotics.

With special training and a range of precision-engineered orthotic devices, for certain sleep apnea sufferers Dr. Chase is able to bring back that elusive good night’s sleep.

Snoring often alerts people to the presence of sleep apnea in which the airway is blocked during sleep. The blockage isn’t usually enough to awaken the individual, but it is enough to prevent him or her from falling into the all-important deep REM stage. Apneas can occur hundreds of times each night, and although the person thinks they slept all night, they have chronic fatigue.

It’s estimated that 30 million Americans have sleep apnea though most haven’t yet been diagnosed. It can cause daytime sleepiness, poor health, lost years of productivity and happiness — even death. Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disorders, heart failure, dementia, memory problems, obesity, diabetes and depression. It can lead to highway and workplace accidents.

Among alternative orthotic treatment options, Dr. Chase says, are a device that suctions onto the tongue. It prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat, thus increasing airway volume and eliminating snoring. Another device moves the lower jaw into a forward position, increasing space in the airway and reducing air velocity and soft tissue vibration. Medical insurance may cover these treatments if prescribed and approved by the patient’s doctor. This usually requires a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis.

“In addition to creating beautiful smiles, we want everyone to sleep well, to be alert and healthy because there are so many reasons to smile every day. And you don’t want to sleep through them.”

ARCH is offering free consultations for all ages – a $500 value – and no-interest financing.  ARCH is also offering a courtesy discount to those currently serving in the military, veterans and members of their immediate families. A similar offer is extended to municipal employees in the towns where ARCH has offices and their immediate families.