Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Millions of people suffer from sleep apnea. This pause in breathing can affect anyone at any age. It is important to distinguish between sleep apnea and general snoring. Snoring can simply be an irritating nuisance to your bed partner, or a sign of something more serious like a blocked airway. Many people do not even realize they have this condition, thinking they sleep well through the night. It often goes undiagnosed which can lead to more serious health issues.

There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. Central sleep apnea affects the brain’s repertory control center. Often associated with snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is the most common type and is usually identified by characteristics such as:

• Snoring
• Lapse of breathing for up to 10 seconds or more
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• High/raised blood pressure
• Poor judgment or mental functioning problems
• Restless sleep
• Crowded airway
• Large neck
• Nighttime chest pain
• Morning headaches
• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)
• Weight gain

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a symptom of OSA where the body is deprived of much needed oxygen. This is due to waking many times during the night, leaving the person feeling sleepy after what was thought to be a good night’s sleep. This mild to moderate sleep apnea can be treated by a well qualified dentist.

Orthodontic treatments for sleep apnea in the past have been uncomfortable. The treatment of choice is an oral appliance custom fitted for your teeth. This non-surgical procedure can help to minimize nasal pressure and improve your breathing. If you have exhausted all options, surgery may be needed to increase the size of the airway. Dental devices will only work with cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea. Contact the office at Making Awesome Smiles and see what Dr. Brossoit and his friendly staff can do for your oral appliance therapy.

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