Take Home Screening People who may have obstructive sleep apnea should first have a screening and consultation with a sleep apnea specialist.  Sleep Effect Center for Apnea Management can provide screening examinations and testing services, including a take-home sleep monitor worn at night to screen for sleeping disorders.  Among other indicators, the take-home sleep monitor determines the amount of oxygen saturation in the blood, which can be indicative of a sleep disorder or some form of breathing obstruction. Additional screening services for airway evaluations at Sleep Effect include using pharygnometer/rhinometer tests and 3-D imaging,

Diagnostic Testing

It is necessary for a physician to provide a final diagnosis prior to treatment.  This diagnostic testing is done by an overnight polysomnography, commonly known as a sleep study.  These tests are performed at a sleep center.  The study the average number of partial and complete breaks in breathing that occur per hour of sleep.

Although dentists cannot diagnose sleep apnea, they can consult and provide screening examinations including take-home sleep monitors.  After an individual has been diagnosed with sleep apnea by a physician, a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine can participate in apnea management therapy and can customize oral devices as an alternative for breathing machines (generally in mild to moderate cases of OSA or when patients are not in compliance with pressure breathing machines such as CPAP).

It is important for a dentist to be properly trained in the field of dental sleep medicine, which can included membership in academies such as the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Dentistry and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

You should know there is no cure for sleep apnea.  However, there are a variety of options for effective sleep apnea management to control sleep apnea.  Consult with your healthcare provider as to which options are best suited for you.