Are you suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
Dr. Sohn has special interest in the area of Dental Sleep Medicine. Although Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP therapy is considered the “Gold Standard” for OSA treatment, the FDA has approved dental appliances for treatment as well. Many patients prefer this alternative to CPAP when traveling or if they simply cannot tolerate the CPAP. Dr. Sohn has additional training to provide a dental solution for managing your mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Mandibular Advancement Devices
These custom made devices position your bottom jaw forward to enlarge your airway to treat OSA as well as snoring. Test this concept for yourself: Make an audible snoring noise through the back of your throat. Now move your bottom jaw forward and try to make the same snoring noise. Unless you are a nasal snorer, you will find it much more difficult to make the same noise. There are many different styles of mandibular advancement devices available and Dr. Sohn is happy to consult with you on the one that is best suited for you.
DNA Appliance
The “Daytime-Nighttime Appliance” or DNA appliance therapy uses a completely different approach to OSA treatment. Instead of simply pushing and holding the jaw forward while you sleep, the DNA appliance stimulates your natural growth potential to permanently optimize the underlying structure of your airway. The DNA appliance gently and painlessly expands the upper jaw in three dimensions to increase the size of the upper airway. As the upper jaw expands, the lower jaw is able to move forward naturally into a more ideal position. As the jaw moves forward, the tongue and other soft tissues are pulled forward as well, thus increasing the size of the airway. The result is a dramatic improvement in the patient’s ability to breathe. Dr. Sohn is a certified provider of the DNA Appliance System and she would be glad to answer any questions you may have about this revolutionary new treatment.