Thousands of men and women in the Ellisville, Ballwin, and West County area suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring. If you or a loved one suffer from snoring or OSA, Drs. Andrew and Scott Mitchell and Dr. Nick Ridenhour encourage you to schedule an appointment today.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

This condition can alter your energy level and be life threatening. OSA occurs during sleep, when the lower jaw drops back towards the throat. It narrows and possibly closes the throat so that air cannot enter your lungs.

Some of the symptoms of OSA are:

• Insomnia.
• Drowsiness.
• Shortness of breath.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Overall, any symptoms associated with a poor night’s sleep.

Treatment begins with correct diagnosis

A proper determination of OSA is the most important part of the treatment process. The polysomnographic test is most commonly used to diagnose sleep apnea. It should be performed and read by a physician. This test categorizes severity of the problem as mild, moderate, or severe. Severe sleep apnea should be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine. CPAP uses a mask which covers your mouth and nose. Air, under positive pressure, is pushed through the mask to keep the airway open while you sleep.

Cases diagnosed as mild or moderate can generally be treated successfully with an intraoral appliance. This device holds the lower jaw in a position which keeps the airway open. It is discreet, and very comfortable to use.

In order to have insurance coverage for the treatment, a suitable sleep test must be performed by a physician, who will categorize severity of the problem. Our office will be happy to work with your physician to insure your treatment is a success.

Call our office at (636) 227-0400 to learn more.