Sleepy workers can cost companies money due to errors and accidents. A recent survey suggested that insomnia was linked to a 40% higher risk of accidents that cost a company $500 or more. It was estimated that the total cost to American businesses is about $31 billion each year. 

The data from the American Insomnia Survey found that people with insomnia were 90% more likely to report  costly accidents at work and 40% more likely to have made an expensive error on the job (researchers adjusted for age and other factors). Insomnia is estimated to be the cause of about 7% of workplace accidents overall.

Insomnia is not the only sleep disorder that leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and the increased possibility of accidents. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea actually think they are getting a full night of sleep and don’t understand why they are so groggy throughout the day. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes the sleeper to stop breathing during sleep. This happens many times each hour throughout the night causing fragmented sleep as the patient briefly wakes to begin breathing again. They don’t remember these wakings or gasping for air during sleep.

Sleep apnea can be treated by using a CPAP machine which is a small air compressor that supplies pressurized air through a mask and hose to keep the sleeper breathing throughout the night. Many patients have difficulties using CPAP and abandon treatment. There is another highly effective treatment available from a dentist who is specially trained in dental sleep medicine. Using a custom made oral appliance to keep the airway open throughout the night is effective and comfortable. No masks, no hoses and no need for electricity!

To find out more about obstructive sleep apnea and oral appliance therapy please contact the Columbus dental sleep medicine office of Dr. Mark Levy at 614-476-6696 today.