Obstructive Sleep Apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Described as a short cessation or stopping of respiration during sleep, sleep apnea affects over twelve million Americans. It is as common as adult diabetes, according to the National Institute of Health.

Obstructive sleep apnea is usually caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep, creating a blockage of the airway, and a cessation in breathing. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times each night. The vast majority of obstructive sleep apnea sufferers remain undiagnosed and untreated, despite the fact that sleep apnea is a serious disorder that can have significant consequences.

Some of the more serious manifestations of OSA are:

weight gain
irritabilty
fatigue
morning headaches
attention deficit
poor memory
increased sick time
poor job performance
decreased interest in sex
hypertension
heart disease
accidents on the job site
accidents while driving

OSA is directly associated with heart diseases:

congestive heart failure
pulmonary hypertension
cardiac arrhythmia
ischemic heart disease
stroke

It is estimated that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be responsible for 38,000 cardiovascular deaths per year in the United States, and that as many as 95% of OSA sufferers may be undiagnosed.

Sometimes obstructive sleep apnea is hard to diagnose by the sufferer, because some of the symptoms happen while you are sleeping. Your sleeping partner may notice it first, by noticing heavy snoring or long pauses in your breathing during sleep.

The Noiselezz® appliance is an out-of-the-box, hinged, two-piece unit, which may be more suited to open-mouth sleepers. Noiselezz® is ready to wear and does not require custom fitting. More info...

The SomnoGuard® Classic and 2.0 are one piece, custom-fitted appliances, which may be more suited to closed-mouth sleepers. The custom fitting is a simple procedure and complete instructions are included. The 2.0 has a thickened biting zone. More info...

The SomnoGuard AP® is a revolutionary 2-piece design with an adjustment screw that allows more advancement and more accurate adjustment. It also allows more lateral movement of the jaw. More info...

NEW! We now carry a revolutionary new product for sleep apnea testing called the SleepStrip®. The SleepStrip® sensors provide the easiest, most advanced and cost-effective method for accurate screening of Sleep Apnea Syndrome. More info....