Sleep Apnea
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing is interrupted while asleep. People with undiagnosed sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping, sometimes hundreds of times. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. This is a dangerous condition because it means that the body and the brain may not get enough oxygen.
Lack of oxygen (oxygen deprivation) over time has been shown to cause and/or contribute to many other serious health issues, also known as comorbidities, such as; diabetes, strokes, heart disease, heart attacks, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and high blood pressure.
If you experience the symptoms below and/or loud snoring, especially snoring that's punctuated by periods of silence, contact Bos a dentist in Gladstone to see how we can help. (503) 300-1185
About Us
Dr. Bos, graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1978 and has over 35 years of clinical experience. The pursuit of continuing education throughout his career allows him to provide his patients with the best and latest in technological advances in dental medicine including sleep apnea treatments, implants, and the use of the latest developments in dental restorative materials.
Helping his patients regain and maintain their general and dental health and achieve their specific treatment goals with the highest degree of patient comfort gives Dr. Bos his greatest professional reward. Delivering care that is individualized to his patient’s desires is his ultimate goal.
Dr. Bos enjoys a wide range of recreational activities available in the great Northwest and feels he lives in the absolute best part of the country and among exceptional people.
Treatment Options
What are the most common treatment options?
Mild Sleep Apnea: Behavioral and lifestyle changes recommended i.e. sleeping on your side vs your back and may also include losing weight, smoking cessation and allergy treatments.
Oral Appliance: These can be used to position the mouth in such a way that it prevents throat blockage. These are designed to open your throat by bringing your jaw forward, which can sometimes relieve snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea.
Dr. Bernard Bos explains, “Our advanced equipment makes us unique in that we can accurately measure and determine if a patient would be successful in our treatment before any money is spent on the sleep apnea oral appliance. We are proud to say that we have a high success rate in our treatment.”
Dr. Bernard Bos will help you try different night guard appliances to find the one that works best for you. Once you find the right fit for your custom-made device, you will still need to follow up with Dr. Bernard Bos repeatedly during the first year and then regularly after that to ensure that the fit is still good and to reassess your signs and symptoms. We know you will see considerable improvements in your health and performance throughout the day if you faithfully wear the appliance while sleeping.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) : a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep.
Do you currently have a CPAP but are non-compliant i.e. don't use it? Dr. Bernard Bos offers alternatives for CPAP intolerant patients. A non-invasive oral appliance may be the solution.
Surgery : Is usually only an option after other treatments have failed. Generally, at least a three-month trial of other treatment options is suggested before considering surgery. However, for those few people with certain jaw structure problems, it's a good first option.
Contact us today to discuss your Sleep Apnea symptoms and treatment options!
Are you experiencing any of these common Sleep Apnea symptoms?
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Loud snoring
- Waking up at night gasping or short of breath
- Snorting or choking sounds during the night
- Migraines and/or headaches upon waking
- Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
- Extreme drowsiness during the day
- Increased resting heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Attention problems
- Irritability
Am I at risk for Sleep Apnea? Some of the most common risk factors include :
- Male gender
- Being overweight
- Over the age of 40
- Having a large neck size, that of 17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women
- Having large tonsils, large tongue, or small jaw bone
- A familial history
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)dr
- Nasal obstruction due to deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems
Is it important to get Sleep Apnea treated?
Although you may consider your snoring to be a minor inconvenience, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious medical condition and can contribute to various complications if left untreated including hypersomnia-also known as daytime fatigue, headaches and mood changes including depression.
Because of repeated drops of oxygen in the body, sleep apnea can increase blood pressure and undue strain on the cardiovascular system increasing your risk of stroke, heart disease, heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks. Sleep apnea has also been linked to Type 2 Diabetes and insulin resistance. Be sure to inform your doctor about sleep apnea before any surgery or medications as you will be more prone to breathing problems when sedated or lying on your back. Please call Dr. Bernard Bos a dentist in Gladstone for a free consultation to see how we can help you avoid these complications.
Children and Sleep Apnea
Did you know it’s estimated that 1 to 4 percent of children suffer from sleep apnea, many of them being between 2 and 8 years old? Studies have suggested that as many as 25 percent of children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may actually be suffering the consequences of chronic fragmented sleep due to sleep apnea which is visible in daytime fatigue, learning difficulty, hyperactivity and behavior problems.
What can you do? The most common treatment for pediatric sleep apnea is surgical removal of both the adenoids and tonsils which generally eliminates sleep apnea symptoms in 70-90 percent of the cases. Another noninvasive option are oral appliances which are especially helpful for adolescents whose facial bone growth is largely complete. A dentist in Gladstone, call Dr. Bernard Bos today for a free consultation to see how we can help your child sleep better and feel better.
Complimentary Consultation
Early identification and diagnosis of Sleep Apnea is important as it can often (if not always) eliminate the need for surgical procedures, which are both costly and often overly invasive "solutions" for an issue that may be addressed through appropriate dental solutions.
Trouble sleeping in Gladstone We encourage you to schedule a personal consultation today to see how Bernard Bos can help you finally get a good night’s sleep!
Call (503) 300-1185 NOW to schedule your Complimentary Consultation or fill in the following form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Testimonials
Dr. Bos and his entire staff are wonderful people and real professionals in there field. I have been going there for years and have always had excellent care. The dental hygienist that cleaned my teeth this time did an excellent job. I highly recommend them. - John C.
Dr. Bos is one of the best dentists I've ever had. I've been seeing him now for almost ten years and he is unfailingly professional, caring, sensitive and top notch in his work. I especially appreciate that he is empathic with his patients, and does a great job of presenting choices and advice regarding what may or may not be needed and explaining everything in terms you can understand. I am really grateful to have a dentist like Dr. Bos that I can trust and feel that I'm in excellent hands. - Zachary N.
Would reccomend this office. Dr Bos is great and Vickiy is super friendly and helpful. Thank you! - Eda B.
Almost painless! Thank you for the caring and safe atmosphere . I’ve had some nasty dental work in the past and I worried more dental work another disaster I did not want. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded. I highly recommend Bos Dental. - Kathleen W.