Self-assessment: Determine the cause of tiredness during the day

Posted on February 25th, 2020

This quick assessment can help get to the bottom of unexplained daytime sleepiness.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a basic questionnaire-style assessment that analyzes daytime sleepiness. The Vivos ESS can be utilized by adults and children.

The form asks questions about situations where you may fall asleep using a rating system to analyze your chances of dozing off. Such situations include while watching TV, riding in a car, sitting by yourself after lunch and more.

The score interpretation at the end of the assessment signals if you are in the Normal Range, Excessively Sleepy or Abnormally Sleepy.

There are various conditions that can cause daytime sleepiness, from sleep apnea, to narcolepsy, to hypersomnia. Additionally, some medications, drugs, alcohol, and other medical conditions can be a cause.

It is important to note that taking the ESS does not result in a diagnosis, but it can be utilized as a tool for screening to help your dentist guide you for additional testing.

A study published in 2017 in the SleepMedicine Journal, showed that the ESS is “a reliable and internally valid measure of daytime sleepiness in adolescents 12-18 years old.” A 2018 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine said this: “Our study confirmed the unidimensionality of the ESS in a large diverse clinical population. Results from this study can be used to justify the interpretation of the ESS within clinical populations, andsupports valid comparisons between groups based on the ESS.”

We highly encourage our patients to take this assessment if they are experiencing daytime drowsiness. Take the ESS test as if you had no coffee or stimulating products to determine the real value. Together, we can work toward trying to find a solution.

« 5 reasons you shouldn’t ignore your sleep apnea

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743 East Chapman Ave.
Orange, CA 92866
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Monday	8:30AM - 6:30PM
Tuesday	8:00AM - 5:30PM
Wednesday	8:00AM - 5:30PM
Thursday	8:30AM - 2:30PM

Family appointment blocks available!

Your safety is our first priority!

Welcome to Smiles of Orange! The information below highlights our new safety protocols following the California Department of Public Health. These new protocols are in addition to our existing, extensive, infection control protocols:

Pre-appointment screening questions: We will ask a series of questions before your appointment over the phone or via email.
Taking your temperature: Before entering the treatment room to check for fever. Everyone, including employees, will be screened with a health questionnaire and forehead temperature reading daily.
Check-in: Text or call us when you arrive and wait in your car. We are limiting the number of people in our reception area and have removed magazines.
Face masks: Each person in the office will be required to wear a mask (including us), our team will let you know when to remove the mask for your appointment.
Parents & Guardians: We ask that only one guardian attend the appointment with their dependent.
We have new medical-grade HEPA air filtration units in every treatment area and throughout the office!
Once in the operatory we will ask you to pre-rinse with a hydrogen peroxide-based rinse to lower the pathogens in your mouth.
We will continue to use high speed suctioning and isolation tools when generating aerosols (Purevac HVE, DryShield, Rubber Dams)
We will have additional PPE including hair coverings, long jackets, faceshields and N95 or higher masks

We are committed to keeping you safe and healthy! We anticipate resuming regular hygiene visits by May 26, 2020 and are rescheduling many patients that we had to cancel due to the closure. Thank you for your patience as we reach out. We can’t wait to see you!