Snoring
and Obstructive Sleep Apnea are both breathing disorders that
occur during sleep due to narrowing or total closure of the
airway. Snoring is a noise created by the partial closure of
the airway and may often be no more problematic than the noise
itself. However, consistent, loud, heavy snoring has been linked
to medical disorders such as high blood pressure. Obstructive
Sleep Apnea is a serious condition where the airway totally
closes many times during the night and can significantly reduce
oxygen levels in the body and disrupt sleep. In varying degrees,
this can result in excessive daytime sleepiness irregular heartbeat,
high blood pressure and occasionally heart attack and stroke.
Because
any sleep disordered breathing may potentially represent a health
risk, all individuals are advised to consult with their physician
or sleep specialist for accurate diagnosis of their condition
before treatment can be started.
Oral
appliances may be helpful in the treatment of snoring and Sleep
Apnea. Those diagnosed with mild or moderate Sleep Apnea are
better candidates for improvement with this therapy than those
seriously affected. Oral appliances are designed to assist breathing
by keeping the tongue forward, thereby opening the airway space
in the throat. While documented evidence exists that oral appliances
have substantially reduced snoring and Sleep Apnea for many
people, there are no guarantees this therapy will be successful
for every individual. Several factors contribute to the snoring/Sleep
Apnea condition including nasal obstruction, narrow air space
in the throat and excess weight. Since each person is different
and presents with unique circumstances, oral appliances will
not reduce snoring and/or Sleep Apnea for everyone. Furthermore,
some people may not be able to tolerate the appliance in their
mouth. Also, many individuals will develop temporary adverse
side effects such as excessive salivation, sore jaw joints,
sore teeth and a slight change in their “bite.”
However, these usually diminish within an hour after appliance
removal in the morning. One rare occasion, a permanent “bite”
change may occur requiring restorative therapy.
It
is advised that oral appliances be checked at least twice a
year to ensure proper fit and that the mouth be examined at
that time to assure a healthy condition. If any unusual symptoms
occur, it is recommended that the appliance not be worn until
an office visit is scheduled to evaluate the situation.
Individual
who have been diagnosed as having Sleep Apnea may notice that
after sleeping with an oral appliance they feel more refreshed
and alert during the day. This is only subjective evidence of
improvement and may be misleading. The only way to accurately
measure whether the appliance is keeping the oxygen level sufficiently
high to prevent abnormal heart rhythms is to have a consultation
with the sleep specialist and a follow-up sleep test while wearing
the appliance. This is a must for Apnea patients.
Please
sign below indicating that you have read and understand this
information concerning oral appliances for the treatment of
snoring and/or Apnea, and that you are willing to accept any
and all risk known and unknown. You will receive a copy of this
disclaimer.
Patient
Signature: _____________________________ Date: _________________________