Joseph R. Gatti, a Lawrence dentist, recently addressed the 190th Air National Guard Medical Squadron regarding oral appliances for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

The presentation by Gatti, a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, came as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine established new treatment parameters.

While use of continuous positive airway pressure – commonly known as CPAP – remains the first line of treatment for patients with severe cases, the new parameters note that oral appliances may benefit some patients with airway obstruction, such as snoring patients who do not respond to losing weight or changing sleep positions.

Obstructive sleep apnea, a medical condition affecting an estimated 18 million people in the U.S., can lead to severe daytime sleepiness, an increased risk of high blood pressure and higher rates of heart attack and stroke.

For more information, contact Gatti’s office at 749-2943 or e-mail gattidds@gattidds.com.