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What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing (apneas) or shallow breathing while an individual sleeps. These apneas can occur due to a physical blockage of airflow, a lack of respiratory effort, or both.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Central sleep apnea
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome (occurs when someone has obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea)
What causes sleep apnea?
Your tongue, soft palate, and throat tissues relax as you fall asleep. When you have sleep apnea, your soft palate and throat tissues overstretch, causing them to collapse into the back of your throat and obstruct your airway.
Your brain forces you to slightly awaken in order to consciously resume breathing when the oxygen flow is cut off due to an obstruction in the airway. These episodes could occur hundreds of times per night, severely interfering with your ability to sleep.
How are snoring and sleep apnea diagnosed?
Symptoms of sleep apnea include heavy snoring, headaches and migraines upon waking, restless sleep, excessive daytime fatigue, problems focusing, irritability, depression and TMJ symptoms.
Though loud snoring is a notorious symptom and may indicate a potentially serious problem, not everyone who has sleep apnea will snore. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should visit a medical professional so you can receive a proper diagnosis.
Once your issue has been diagnosed by a medical professional, your dentists can help you get a better night’s rest with a number of treatment options. We will complete a full examination of your teeth, tongue, airway and jaw, and potentially take an x-ray of your airway, to determine the right appliance for your needs.
What sleep apnea devices or oral appliances can help?
Dental appliances can help by positioning your lower jaw further forward, effectively pulling your tongue away from the throat and the soft palate to open your airway. These dental appliances are:
- Portable
- Easy to care for
- Comfortable to wear
- Easy to insert and remove
- Quiet and not disruptive to any bed partners (unlike some sleep apnea machines)
- Convenient for travel
Why is it important to treat sleep apnea?
You won't be able to get into a deep sleep that rejuvenates your body and mind if you have sleep apnea. This may contribute to a variety of medical conditions and illnesses and shorten your life expectancy.
A wide range of conditions, such as metabolic syndrome and high blood sugar, which are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, can be complications. Additionally, you might develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, and insulin resistance. You may be more likely to be involved in work-related or driving-related accidents as a result of your daytime fatigue.
Your dentist can assist you in enhancing and safeguarding your general health and well-being by treating sleep apnea.