Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

Today, sleep apnea is more often diagnosed by dentists than by doctors. A dentist can also offer more treatment options to a patient. They can create a custom-built oral appliance where a doctor cannot, so this option requires a referral if nothing else.

If Dr. Louie suspects you may have sleep apnea, the first step is testing to confirm the diagnosis. We can conduct these sleep tests in two ways:

• Testing in a sleep lab (nocturnal polysomnography)
• At-home sleep testing (ARES machine)

If you are sent to a sleep lab, a test called a polysomnogram will be conducted. It will record brainwaves, heart rate, breathing, and blood oxygen levels, along with eye and limb movements. This type of testing is ideal for diagnosing a wide range of sleep-related disorders. This testing ensures you get a proper diagnosis and will help ensure you get the best care.

ARES Home Sleep Study Device

While a sleep lab will give the most comprehensive results, many patients find it difficult to sleep normally in a strange environment. If this is the case, a take-home machine called the ARES can be used to detect sleep apnea. The system uses a headset which is easily applied before you go to bed and worn for 8-10 hours during the night.

The ARES is a highly accurate diagnostic tool that measures respiratory effort during sleep, heart rate, airflow, and oxygen saturation. Because it allows you to test in a familiar environment at a time that fits your normal routine, it may result in more accurate results.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Once you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, it is time to treat the problem. An effective and unobtrusive method is oral appliance therapy (OAT). Dr. Louie can create the device for you here in her office, saving you the need to find a specialist and wait weeks for a lab to return the device. Quieter, less expensive, and less intrusive than other methods, this is one of the most popular treatments available for patients suffering from sleep apnea.

If you suspect you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea, Dr. Louie can help. Patients in and around Los Angeles, CA, should make an appointment for a consultation.