Sleep Apnea and Dentistry

Why Do Sleep Apnea Patients Require Help from Their Dentist as Well?

When we talk about sleep apnea, we actually talk about a potentially dangerous and life-threatening sleep disorder. Affecting both men and women, although men are more commonly predisposed to this sleep disorder, sleep apnea really does bring a lot of difficulties into the lives of these patients. From feeling tired in the morning and being unable to complete your everyday activities, to suffering from a headache in the morning and waking up everyone with your loud snoring, sleep apnea really does get the worst from you. So how do a dentist and his practice fit this picture? It is a bit unusual involving a dentist in the treatment plan for sleep apnea, especially if you are hearing about such a thing for the very first time. What can your dentist do to help you manage your sleep apnea symptoms? Have you ever heard of using dental appliances to treat the symptoms of sleep apnea and reduce the risks that this dangerous sleep disorder brings? In today's article we explain everything about the link between sleep apnea and dentistry that you need to know about.

What is there to know about sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder that is quite common nowadays. Although there is no clear known cause of sleep apnea, there are some risk factors that are commonly included in the occurrence and development of this common sleep disorder. The risk factors for sleep apnea include smoking, long use of alcohol and drugs, obesity and a family history involving a family member who might have suffered from sleep apnea as well. There are three different types of sleep apnea, all caused by different factors; however, what we are interested in the most is the obstructive type of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs whenever the throat muscles relax during your sleep, which blocks your airway, causing your breathing to stop and start repeatedly during your sleep. The most obvious symptom of obstructive sleep apnea is loud snoring, which sometimes even wakes up the patient who continues to sleep afterward, in most cases not even being aware of the interrupted sleep. Other symptoms include fatigue, morning headaches, choking or gasping sounds during sleep, silent pauses in breathing during sleep, and even insomnia. There are many health risks known to increase due to the presence of sleep apnea, making this condition potentially life-threatening. Sleep apnea has been known to increase the risk of stroke, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Knowing all the symptoms and health risks that come with sleep apnea, it is vitally important to treat this condition as soon as possible. The diagnosis of sleep apnea is quite easy in most cases; usually, an evaluation of the symptoms is made as well as monitoring of your breathing and other body functions during your sleep. Treatment includes lifestyle changes, quitting smoking, use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and dental appliances. The most severe cases of sleep apnea require surgery.

The link between sleep apnea and dentistry

Nowadays, the standard treatment plan for sleep apnea involves using CPAP devices (continuous positive airway pressure). However, it has been suggested that around 25 to 50% of the patients with sleep apnea are not compatible with this kind of treatment. That is where your dentist comes in. For those patients there is another option: dental appliances, prescribed by your dentist and created individually for each patient. Although CPAP has been considered more effective compared with dental appliances, dental appliances have been reported as easier to be used by patients. Dental appliances are usually prescribed for patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea. They involve a device that is similar to dental braces that the patient uses during sleep. This device is able to keep the airway open and stop the tongue from blocking the airway during the sleep process. The use of dental appliances is possibly the best treatment option for moderate obstructive sleep apnea since it is a safe, non-invasive method that results in reduced symptoms and, most importantly, reduced risks to your health. There are different types of dental appliances that you will try on at your dentist's office until you find the one that works best for you. Afterward, the dentist will have the oral appliance designed just for you and you can start using it regularly in just a few days. You will then check in with your dentist and doctor to determine the effects, since there might be a need for certain changes. By using dental appliances, these patients are able to get a good night's sleep without having to deal with the loud snoring, fatigue, irritability and health risks that come with obstructive sleep apnea. We recommend consulting your doctor about a possible use of dental appliances so that you can manage your sleep apnea symptoms.

If you are suffering from the symptoms of sleep apnea, then you might want to look into using dental appliances. According to recent studies, the use of dental appliances can help you address not only the symptoms of sleep apnea but also the serious risks that this health condition brings. The use of dental appliances keeps your airway open all throughout your sleep, enabling you to get some quality rest while you keep on breathing. Soon after you start using dental appliances you may feel the changes that come with a good night's sleep, leaving fatigue, headaches, and loud snoring behind. Talk with your doctor about the possibility of using dental appliances in your case and give this promising, effective treatment a try.