Raising Awareness of the Dangers and Costs of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Drivers are 15 times more likely to be involved in a deadly motor vehicle accident when they have excessive daytime sleepiness, a common symptom of sleep apnea. Motor vehicle accidents due to drowsy driving account for $48 billion in medical costs each year.
Current legislation recommends that commercial drivers get screened and treated for sleep apnea. However, many drivers do not know that they have sleep apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine estimates that 18 million Americans have sleep apnea. 80 to 90 percent of cases remain undiagnosed and untreated. The Institute of Medicine reports 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.
Help protect yourself, your loved ones and your fellow travelers. The AADSM requests that you read the following information and contact a sleep specialist if the risk factors or warning signs sound familiar. A sleep specialist can test you for sleep apnea and provide treatment.
Snoring & Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Snoring occurs when the airway is partially constricted. The snoring sound is a result of a collapsed airway. The reduced size of the opening causes the tissues to vibrate, producing the sound.
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder. It occurs when the airway collapses partially or completely, sometimes hundreds of times a night. The pauses can be as brief as 10 to 30 seconds, or as long as a minute or longer. When the collapse occurs, the brain causes you to wake to breathe, though you may not realize it. This may cause your sleep to be fragmented, leading to daytime sleepiness.
Snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has it. The AASM reports that habitual snoring affects an estimated 24 percent of adult women and 40 percent of adult men. Approximately half of people who snore loudly have sleep apnea. Patients with sleep apnea often make choking or gasping sounds when they wake up to breathe, which can help spouses recognize the disorder.
Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea
- Age and weight increase risk
- Obesity and large neck sizes
- Alcohol and tobacco use
- Genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome
- Sleep apnea is more common in men
Diagnostic Testing
A sleep physician at a sleep center diagnoses sleep apnea using overnight polysomnography, also known as a sleep study. This test measures your Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), which is the average number of partial and complete pauses in breathing that occur per hour of sleep.
AHI Categories
- Mild Sleep Apnea: AHI of 5–15
- Moderate Sleep Apnea: AHI of 15–30
- Severe Sleep Apnea: AHI of more than 30
Dentists are not permitted to diagnose sleep apnea, but they can help screen patients. Because dentists see patients regularly, they are in a unique position to provide questionnaires and advise at-risk patients to seek formal testing at a sleep center. With more than 180,000 dentists practicing in the U.S., they play an important role in raising awareness and responding to the risks of untreated sleep apnea.
Oral Appliance Therapy and Other Treatments
Members of the AADSM have pioneered the research and clinical development of dental sleep medicine. Oral appliance therapy (OAT) and upper-airway surgery are two ways dentists can help treat sleep apnea.
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)
Oral appliances are custom-designed devices worn during sleep to move the lower jaw and tongue forward, opening the airway. They look similar to sports mouth guards. A dentist trained in sleep medicine selects, fits, and adjusts these devices for each patient’s specific needs, with follow-up care to ensure effectiveness. A follow-up sleep study may be recommended to confirm the therapy is working.
OAT is a first-line treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea and a safe, effective alternative for patients who cannot tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). OAT may also be combined with CPAP or behavioral therapy for best results.
Behavioral & Surgical Options
- Sleeping on one’s side
- Quitting smoking
- Losing weight
- Avoiding alcohol
- Upper-airway surgery (for select patients)
While CPAP remains the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, many patients find oral appliance therapy to be a more comfortable and sustainable solution.
Download Fact Sheet on Drowsy Driving ~ Courtesy of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine