At Taylor Dental, we are proud to serve as your authority on Sleep Apnea Treatment. You don’t have to suffer through Obstructive Sleep Apnea alone. In pursuit of our commitment to excellence, we are a dental office that goes above and beyond regular dentistry to provide you a higher quality of health and life.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, is a serious medical condition that can affect your overall health and quality of life. While we sleep, the soft tissue and muscles relax and fall to the back of the throat which collapses the airway and obstructs airflow. It’s more common than you think, with nearly 25 million Americans affected. It has been estimated that 80% of moderate to severe cases of OSA remain undiagnosed. Remember, the snore means more!
Common symptoms of OSA include:
- Exhaustion
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Snoring
- Acid Reflux
- Irritability
- Frequent breaks in breathing
- Gasping for air during sleep
Who’s at Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
With OSA afflicting every 1 in 5 Americans, you may be more vulnerable to this condition than you think. Many people pass it off as routine snoring, but there is a possibility it could be something more serious. There are segments of the population who are more at risk than others.
Those who may be at risk of OSA include:
- Enlarged tonsils
- Male gender
- Family with a history of snoring or OSA
- Excess Weight
- Large neck circumference
- Smoking
A useful tool in identifying patients who may be at risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the STOP-BANG Questionnaire. If you answer “yes” to three or more of the following questions, it may be wise for you to schedule a sleep consultation with the Taylor team today.
STOP-BANG Questionnaire:
- Do you SNORE loudly?
- Do you often feel TIRED or fatigued during the day?
- Has anyone OBSERVED that you have stopped breathing while sleeping?
- Do you have or are you being treated for high blood PRESSURE?
- Do you have a BMI of more than 35 kg / m2?
- Are you more than 50 years of AGE?
- Is your NECK more than 17 inches or greater for men (16 inches for women)?
- Are you of the Male GENDER?
Next Steps
The Taylor Dental doctors and our specialized team have recognized the need for OSA treatment in our community. It’s hurting our patients’ quality of life and threatening their health. To help combat the dangerous effects of OSA, we have created a seamless process that will usher you to a better night’s sleep.
The first action step is scheduling a sleep consultation. If you think your snore may mean something more or found yourself answering yes to the questions on the STOP-BANG Questionnaire, you should contact us as soon as possible. Once you come in for your consultation, we will begin the process required to assist with the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Disorder.
