Do you notice any of the following?
Have a hard time concentrating?
Have a hard time concentrating?
Have a hard time concentrating?
Feel unrested?
Have a hard time concentrating?
Have a hard time concentrating?
Snore?
Have a hard time concentrating?
Snore?
What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Many millions of Americans suffer from OSA and don't even know it. When these people are sleeping, the soft tissues around their airway relax and partially or fully close, causing an obstruction. This lowers the oxygen being delivered to the brain, heart, and the rest of the body. If the body can't open the airway in its sleep, it forces them awake to take a breath, causing what is called sleep fragmentation. This combination of decreased oxygen and broken sleep typically causes patients to feel fatigued, forgetful, and unrested in the short term, and over time, it greatly increases the risk of many diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, liver cirrhosis, dysregulated metabolism, and cancer. Patients who have OSA and don't get treatment can lose up to 15 years of their total lifespan.
Why would a dental practice talk about sleep?
Conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have many signs and symptoms in the mouth and airway. Many oral factors, such as the alignment of your teeth or the size of your tongue and uvula, can increase risk of sleep apnea, and conversely, if you're suffering from sleep apnea, you're likely to be clenching or grinding your teeth, breathing through your mouth, and doing other things that can harm your oral health. We work with board-certified sleep MDs to help you discover whether you have this condition, and whether you qualify for a potential dental solution to this health problem.
Why does healthy sleep matter?
Healthy sleep is fundamental to every aspect of your health and body: your heart, brain, metabolism, nutrition, and yes, your oral health also. Many millions of Americans suffer from sleep disorders that are not diagnosed or treated, which can severely impact quality of life and shorten lifespan. At Reynoldsburg Dental Center, we spend more time examining your airway than most doctors, and we're trained to identify the signs and symptoms of potential sleep disorders. We're passionate about helping you get better sleep so you can enjoy having greater quality sleep, more energy during the day, lowered risk of conditions like heart disease, and higher quality of life and longer lifespan.
How does the process work?
We'll begin by screening you for the common signs, such as asking about your sleep patterns and examining your airway. If we determine you are at risk, we'll help connect you with a board-certified sleep physician over a telehealth visit. They can send a home sleep test directly to you that you'll use at night in the comfort of your own bed. Once they receive the data, they'll do a follow up visit to review your diagnosis and their recommended treatment. If you qualify for a dental solution, you'll return to our office to make an oral appliance that you'll wear at night to help keep your airway open in order to get the life saving sleep you need.
All of these steps, including the oral appliance, are billed to medical insurance. We are in network with most major medical insurances. We've partnered with a company that will help navigate the complicated world of health insurance in order to make the financial picture clear for you. This way, we can come up with a financial plan together to ensure that this life saving treatment will fit into your budget.
