Sleep Apnea & Snoring

Sleep Apnea

In the United States, 26% of adults aged 30-70 years have a medical condition that prevents them from getting a good night’s sleep⁵. It’s called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Unfortunately, you may be unaware of the signs/symptoms of sleep disorders. The good news is the first step to identifying a sleep issue may be as simple as talking to Dr. Glaser during your visit. Then, Dr. Glaser and his team will look for the silent indicators of sleep disorders and discuss the steps you should take to confirm and treat the diagnosis.

Uncovering and treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is of utmost importance because of the many risks associated with this disorder. People with OSA stop breathing multiple times throughout the night due to physical blockages of the airway. As a result, they often experience daytime tiredness, headaches, trouble concentrating, and other symptoms. People with OSA also face an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure, among other issues.

The “gold standard” treatment offered to people with OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. But for those patients unwilling or unable to use a CPAP, research has shown that an oral appliance or a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) can effectively treat OSA. In addition to decreasing the number of lapses in breathing per night, these devices reduce snoring volume, snoring frequency, and daytime sleepiness.

Getting Started – Talk With Dr. Glaser

Suppose your MD has already diagnosed you with sleep apnea, and you are looking for an alternative to your CPAP. In that case, Dr. Glaser will walk you through his process and look at your AHI score/prescription. If he feels you could benefit from an oral appliance, he will then move forward and fabricate your custom device.

The most common form of sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway during sleep. It is a pretty scary condition. The patient can stop breathing hundreds of times during the night.

Suppose you do not have a prescription but feel like you may have sleep issues or snore. In that case, Dr. Glaser offers his patients the opportunity to complete an at-home sleep screening. A small device is worn at night to collect your sleep pattern data. This data is sorted, compiled, and given a specific score. That score is called an Apnea-Hypopnea Index or AHI. It is a reading that offers Dr. Glaser information on the quality of your sleep. Based on your specific AHI, Dr. Glaser may coordinate with an MD to help his qualified patients receive a medical prescription. The prescription will be for a mandibular advancement device or, in simpler terms, a dental sleep appliance.

With your prescription in hand, Dr. Glaser will customize a sleep device that repositions your lower jaw to help keep your airway open while sleeping. Therefore, helping to prevent obstructions that can cause you to stop breathing.

Armed with specialized medical billing training, our administrative team will assist you by submitting your claims to your medical insurance company. Using Glaser to submit your claims can help you get the most benefit from your insurance policy while providing timely treatment.