Oral Appliances for Snoring and Sleep Apnea, Dr. Robert A. Levy Dentist 63141 St. Louis Snoring Sleep Apnea Treatment St. Louis sleep disorders Help                                
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Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment-Visit our new snoring and sleep apnea site: STOP SNORING ST. LOUIS www.stopsnoringstlouis.com

Forms to download before your first visit:

Snoring and sleep apnea are recognized as significant health issues that also affect quality of life. Dr. Levy is experienced in treating patients using specific dental mouthpieces (oral appliances) that are worn during sleep and help keep the airway open to control snoring,sleep apnea, and upper airway resistance. We work with several hospital sleep labs as well as with individual physicians trained in sleep medicine in order to help patients sleep and breathe better.  Dr. Levy regularly speaks at meetings for both sleep apnea patients and physicians.

For more information contact the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (www.aadsm.org)

Snoring and Sleep Apnea-We can help!

Snoring is very common, and affects the majority of adults at one time or another.  It can be disruptive to the sleep of others, and can also cause the snorer to lose quality sleep.
What is sleep apnea?  Apnea is a stoppage of breathing during sleep. Patients often choke and gasp for air. 
• Sleep apnea can have serious long term health consequences, including cardiovascular, stroke, hypertension, feeling tired or fatigued, loss of concentration, increased risk of auto accidents.
• Approximately 3 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea.   

Types of sleep apnea:     
    
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when you attempt to breath while sleeping, but due to  one or more blockages in your throat or airway, the air cannot get through

• Central apnea is when the brain doesn’t signal your lungs to breath during sleep.

• Mixed apnea is a combination of central and obstructive apnea.

Treatment of snoring and sleep apnea:
  There are several treatments for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea

 • Oral appliance therapy:  oral appliances are devices worn in the mouth during sleep.  They work by holding the lower jaw forward.  This widens the airway, keeps the tongue forward, and prevents the jaw from drooping down and blocking the airway during sleep.
Oral appliance therapy is a comfortable and non-invasive way to treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, and is rapidly gaining acceptance by medical sleep professionals.

• CPAP: (continuous positive airway pressure)-this is a breathing mask connected to an air pump. This is worn over the nose during sleep, and air is forced through the nose to keep the airway open during sleep

• Surgery: in some cases, surgery to the soft palate, uvula, tongue or back of the throat can help to enlarge the airway space during sleep.

When can oral appliances be used?   Oral appliances can be used to treat conditions ranging from simple snoring to severe sleep apnea.  The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recently recommended oral appliances as a possible first line treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.  Oral appliances can also be used in cases of CPAP failure or intolerance.

Effectiveness:  Oral appliances are most effective in cases of simple snoring or mild to moderate apnea. 

Side effects:  Most side effects are temporary and minor, such as mild tooth or jaw soreness, salivation.  In some cases there can be changes to the tooth alignment or bite.

Fitting:  Oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea should be fitted by a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine.  Dr. Levy has received training by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine in the field of oral appliance therapy (www.aadsm.org) .    Impressions of the teeth and specific measurements of the bite are made.  The device is produced by a qualified dental laboratory, and the oral appliance is custom made for each individual patient for maximum effectiveness and comfort.  We can also adjust the amount of jaw protrusion to fit the specific needs of each patient.

Treatment: Once treatment has begun, we usually see you every few weeks to monitor your progress.  Once we feel your device has been adjusted for optimum effectiveness, we will refer you back to your sleep specialist.

Insurance coverage:  Medical insurance may cover oral appliances for sleep apnea.  Be sure to bring your medical insurance card to your first visit so we can determine coverage.     

How do I get started? First, set up a consultation appointment. At your first visit, we will examine you to see if you are a candidate for an oral appliance.   We also need copies of your sleep studies, and a referral from your sleep specialist or physician.  Give us a call at (314) 569-0106 for a no charge initial consultation.

Patient Testimonial:

“Dr. Levy, I would like to take a moment to thank you so much for introducing me to, and educating me regarding… the snoring inhibitor dental device. I very much desired to end the snoring for my wife’s sake. We were at the point where one of us, more often than not, was sleeping downstairs, just to get some rest. Well, that has ended…. After about 2 weeks of using the device, I sleep more soundly. Thanks again. I highly recommend this device, when appropriate, to any of your clients. I appreciate you solving what had become a big problem in my marriage!”

 

Forms to download before your first visit:

Web site of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine: www.aadsm.org