Andrew E. Swenda, Jr., D.M.D | Swenda Sleep, LLC

Dr. Swenda is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), and is committed to offering an alternative treatment for people suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

OSA affects approximately 18 million Americans, causing them to stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds, sometimes for one minute or longer, hundreds of times a night.

Dr. Swenda will help his patients manage sleep-related breathing disorders, such as snoring or OSA, with oral appliance therapy (OAT).

Scientific studies have shown that approximately 25 percent to 50 percent of patients with OSA are unable to comply with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), the standard treatment therapy, or do not tolerate it, leaving a large number of OSA patients that dentists can help with OAT.

OAT involves the customized selection, fabrication, fitting, adjustments, and long-term follow-up care of the specially designed oral devices, worn during sleep, which reposition the lower jaw and tongue forward to maintain a more open upper airway.

Oral appliances (OAs) look similar to mouth guards, but should be selected and fitted by Dr. Swenda trained in Dental Sleep Medicine, to maintain unobstructed breathing during sleep.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has published practice parameters, stating that oral appliance therapy is indicated for treatment of patients with mild to moderate apnea, if they prefer it to the CPAP, cannot tolerate the CPAP, or are unable to use positional therapy or weight loss to control their apnea. OAs are also recommended for severe patients if they are unable to tolerate the CPAP.

Warning signs of OSA include excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, morning headaches, poor memory and mood changes.

If a patient undergoes a polysomnography and is diagnosed with OSA by a sleep physician at an accredited sleep center, he or she may be sent to a dentist for treatment.

Facts About Obsructive Sleep Apnea

1.  OSA can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness as an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and driving accidents.
2.  Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90 percent of adults with OSA remain undiagnosed and untreated.
3.  OSA with resulting daytime sleepiness occurs in at least 4 percent of men, and 2 percent of women.

(The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine is a professional organization of more than 1900 dentists worldwide. The AADSM promotes research and clinical use of oral appliance therapy for the treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders.)

• Andrew E. Swenda, Jr., D.M.D. is recognized as one of the finest dental practitioners.
• He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 1981.
• Dr. Swenda has been honored again by Main Line Today magazine as a TOP DENTIST for 2012, in two categories: Cosmetic Dentistry and General Dentistry. Dr. Swenda says, that he “is honored by this selection of my peers and will continue to work hard to earn my patients’ and fellow dentists’ trust.”
• He has also been recognized again as a TOP DOC in Philadelphia magazine.
• Dr.Swenda is privileged to be on the visiting faculty at The Pankey Institute, a world renowned post-graduate dental education center in Key Biscayne, Florida.
• Dr. Swenda will complete a teaching assignment at the Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, FL, at the end of May 2012. He was a lead faculty member in a course, teaching Restorative Principles and Interdisciplinary Care.
• Dr. Swenda has been invited to lecture on the uses of the Cone-beam CT and MRI Imaging in the Dental Practice in October 2012 and recently lectured in March 2012, at the Hinman Dental Meeting.