Oral Appliance Therapy
Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is a condition that involves complete airway blockage for periods of 10 seconds or longer repeatedly during a sleep session and is associated with serious adverse health consequences. During an apnea episode the tongue and soft palate collapse onto the back of the throat; these are associated with drops of oxygen level, arousal and fragmented sleep. Associated symptoms may include snoring, unrefreshing sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, nocturnal snorting, choking or gasping for air, fatigue, morning headaches, cognitive impairment, irritability and depression.

In addition to excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea patients are much more likely to suffer from heart problems (heart attack, congestive heart failure, and hypertension), strokes, as well as having a higher incidence of driving related accidents (patients often report falling asleep while driving).

Accurate diagnosis is based on medical history, physical exam and the results of a full night polysomnography (sleep study), which is conducted at a sleep laboratory. Dr. Pickett can recommend a reputable sleep medicine physician and facility.

CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) appliance is the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment. However, for some patients a custom sleep guard may be an option.