Getting better sleep in 2020 is a team effort if you suffer from sleep apnea. A visit to our office may be just what you need to get your Z’s back! Our dentists have been trained in treating obstructive sleep apnea, which is a condition that can be life-threatening for some. For mild to moderate OSA, patients can benefit from a custom-made oral appliance. This oral appliance fits in your mouth and is only worn while you sleep. It works by preventing obstructions in your airway throughout the night, allowing you to breathe continuously.

Sleep Apnea 101

Have you ever heard someone that snores loudly at night? There are many causes of snoring, but sleep apnea is one of the most common. There are millions of people in the U.S. that actually stop breathing at night. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition affecting 3-7% of men and 2-5% of women depending on their area of the world. Worldwide, about 100 million people have some form of sleep apnea. So what is it?

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where a person stops breathing continuously at night. That break in breathing can last for a few seconds, up to a full minute at a time. This can be incredibly detrimental to the body and can even be life-threatening because the brain relies on oxygen to perform all its functions. If it can’t get that oxygen, you can start to develop chronic conditions, including fatigue, weight and personality changes, insomnia and more.

So, what causes that lack of breathing? There are two causes of obstructive sleep apnea: 1) the muscles around your tongue and throat relax, falling back towards the throat where the air becomes blocked, and 2) your tongue falls too far back into your throat at night. Either cause will block off regular airflow to your lungs, and thus, your brain won’t get the oxygen it needs.

Signs, Symptoms and Chronic Effects

Some patients will show physical signs of obstructive sleep apnea through their chronic snoring at night. This is a sign that airflow to the lungs is being blocked and the air is trying to get around the obstruction. Others will show signs of the condition through symptoms such as:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Insomnia and disrupted sleep
• Irritability, moodiness, and/or personality changes
• Frequent loud snoring
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Choking or gasping sensations during sleep
• Frequent morning headaches or migraines that could last all day
• Awakening with a very dry or a sore throat
• Difficulty concentrating
• Problems with memory
• Pervasive lack of energy or chronic fatigue

These are all signs of a sleep disorder. If the problem is obstructive sleep apnea, it’s something you want to be evaluated for right away, as it can be life-threatening or even deadly in chronic cases. Studies show that sleep apnea tends to run in families, and it’s also common if you’re overweight, older, or have a thicker neck. Alcohol, smoking, sedative use, and tranquilizers all increase your risk for developing sleep apnea as well.

Achieve Better Sleep with Help from Your Dentist

If you experience any of the symptoms of sleep apnea, Dr. Shane S. Porter can help diagnose your condition and can provide personalized treatment. We may also work with your physician to make sure your sleep apnea has not affected your overall health.

One possible treatment for mild to moderate OSA is a custom-made oral appliance. This oral appliance fits in your mouth and is only worn while you sleep. There are different types of oral appliances, such as a tongue-retaining device, jaw-advancing device (JAD), and mandibular advancement device (MAD). JAD and MAD work by moving your jaw forward at night, which will keep your airway large and open while you sleep. A tongue-retaining device will hold your tongue in place while you sleep, preventing it from falling back into your airway. The devices will be custom-made depending on the cause of the sleep apnea and the needs of the patient.

For more extensive sleep issues, a CPAP machine may also be prescribed by a physician to help you get as much oxygen as possible at night. No matter which device works for you, you will see improved sleep and a significant decrease in your health symptoms.

Don’t Wait for an Evaluation!

If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of developing several severe health issues, including:

– High blood pressure. Waking up during the night puts stress on your body, which puts your hormones into overdrive and boosts your blood pressure.

– Heart disease, stroke, and atrial fibrillation. Sleep apnea results in an obstructed airway, which disrupts your oxygen intake. This makes it harder for your brain to control the blood flow to both the brain and the heart.

– Type 2 diabetes. A lack of sleep can prevent your body from properly producing insulin, which could lead to the development of diabetes.

– Car accidents. Sleep apnea often leads to daytime drowsiness, which increases your chances of falling asleep behind the wheel. Those who have sleep apnea are 5X more likely to be in a car accident.

That’s why you don’t want to wait to get help from your dentist with a dental appliance! To schedule your consultation today, call Premier Dentistry of Eagle at (208) 546-0655!