More Smiles Dental Spa Dentistry Blog | James A. Moreau, Jr., D.D.S.

Our home sleep recorder can be used by our patients to evaluate their risk for sleep apnea. In fact, the Watermark Medical device is called A.R.E.S. for Apnea Risk Evaluation System.

A.R.E.S. is an FDA-approved, wireless device that is worn comfortably around the head and rests fairly flat against the forehead so it's easy to sleep in your natural sleeping positions. The A.R.E.S. is also used at home in your own bed rather than in a clinical sleep lab with a sleep technician monitoring your sleep patterns through the night. The sleep study, or polysomnogram, may also be covered by your insurance plan.

A.R.E.S. records nocturnal data such as snoring levels, head movement and head positions, airflow, respiratory effort, blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate. The data is uploaded in our office and interpreted by a qualified sleep technician with a full written report that can be shared with your physician.

A sleep study provides the information needed for Dr. Moreau to prescribe and provide you with the oral appliance that will most likely cure snoring and sleep apnea by either holding the tongue or positioning the jaw forward to allow better airflow.

Untreated sleep breathing disorders are known to cause major medical conditions that can be life threatening. When diagnosed by a physician, the common treatment is a CPAP machine worn at night. More than half of all CPAP patients are mask-intolerant, claustrophobic, or find the CPAP to be intrusive on their sleep patterns. A properly fitted, custom oral appliance can be an effective alternative to the CPAP or even a primary cure for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea.

Call us to request a free sleep apnea/snoring exam and evaluation. 985-809-7645.

Labels: polysomnogram, sleep apnea, sleep study, snoring