Dr. Swenda attended the 20th annual American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine in June 2011. Dr. Swenda is a member of the AADSM and has begun to work towards Diplomat status with the Board of American Academy of Sleep Medicine. In addition we will be working towards having our office become an accredited Dental Sleep Medicine Facility.
Of significance from the research presented at this meeting is that SNORING may be one of the causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is a significant finding in that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been shown to be a cause for:
- High Blood Pressure
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Adult Onset Diabetes
- Accidents (motor vehicle and work related)
The gold standard for treatment of sleep apnea is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure). There are many people who cannot tolerate CPAP devices. Research presented at this meeting showed that oral appliance devices are an acceptable alternative for patients who suffer from snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In addition, oral appliances may be a front line treatment for severe, obstructive sleep apnea.
All snoring and sleep apneas are not the same. To make a correct diagnosis, a board certified sleep physician will need to complete an examination and will request that a patient complete a sleep study. Once a diagnosis has been determined, then treatment options will be discussed. Dr. Swenda has worked with two sleep centers in the West Chester area. If the CPAP device can not be tolerated by our patients, Dr. Swenda has been trained in the fabrication, fitting and the maintenance of oral devices used to treat snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Swenda will work closely with your physician and sleep physician to provide the highest quality of care.
Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea has been unequivocally shown to improve patient’s lives and in fact increase the length of lives through lowering blood pressure and improving daytime alertness.
If you have questions about snoring or sleep disturbance issues, do not hesitate to call Dr. Swenda at 610.436.4512.
