Sleep disturbance scale
At Smile Team Orthodontics we believe that all of our clients (both children and adults) should be screened before they consider orthodontic treatment because our treatment recommendations may differ in the presence of sleep apnea.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Sleep Apnea occurs when the walls to the throat close during sleep, causing breathing to stop. Once the brain registers that it is not breathing, the sleeper usually wakes up, rouses and the throat opens again, then they drift back to sleep. The person effected by sleep apnea, in most cases, does not realise they have even woken. It also causes decreased Oxygen Intake. This means the brain, heart and nervous system are not receiving their required time to rest and oxygenate. The pattern can repeat itself hundreds of times every night. One of the side effects of Sleep Apnea is Cardiac Problems. Also drivers with sleep apnea have 8 times the risk of car accidents.
Sudden Cardiac Death during sleep occurs more commonly in patients who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Epworth Sleepiness Scale – for 17 years and older. Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate for each situation.
Sitting and reading *
Watching TV *
Sitting inactive in a public space *
Being a passenger in a motor vehicle for an hour or more *
Lying down in the afternoon *
Sitting and talking to someone *
Sitting quietly after lunch (no alcohol) *
Stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving *