Sleep apnea increases the risk of heart disease or death by two-thirds

Although more attention is being paid to this disease by the main stream press, obstructive sleep apnea is a disease that we deal with in dentistry on a regular basis.  Many folks who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine find relief to one of several oral appliances designed to help open the airway during sleep.  Most people who suffer with the disease find themselves extremely tired during the day as they don't get enough restful sleep at night.  We routinely do a cone beam scan on these patients which allows us to actually see the airway & we can get a better idea of the seriousness of the situation.  The dental device treatment is very effective and can provide a more comfortable solution for many folks suffering with this disease.  We see a number of these patients in our office on a regular basis.  It's a much larger problem than many realize.

However, being sleep isn't the only problem that comes from sleep apnea.

Now a study has been done that shows the disease can have other serious health effects.  The LA Times has a great article on the subject and the study.