What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or abnormally low breathing while you sleep.  This is a chronic condition that disrupts your sleep, resulting in the brain and the rest of the body not getting enough oxygen.  Each pause is known as an apnea and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes throughout your sleep.  These pauses can occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour.  After these occurrences normal breathing typically starts again, sometimes with a noisy snort or choking sound.  Since sleep apnea only occurs during sleep it commonly goes undiagnosed.  A family member and/or bed partner may be the only ones who notice the first symptoms or signs of the disorder.

 

What is the most common type of Sleep Apnea?

There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed.  Obstructive is the most common type and can normally be treated with a simple dental appliance.  Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction of the airway.  This means that the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep when soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses. 

 

What are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

Loud snoring is common with sleep apnea due to air trying to squeeze past the blockage while breathing.  This is most common in people who are overweight, but can affect anyone.   Even children with enlarged tonsils can suffer from this disorder. 

 If sleep apnea goes untreated it can result in a number of health problems including:

  •  High blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease
  • Stroke
  • Weight gain
  • Headaches
  • Depression
  • Diabetes
  • Worsening of ADHD
  • Memory problems

Additionally, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for:

  •  Poor performance with everyday activities
  • Hinder job function
  • Cause academic underachievement in adolescents
  • Impaired judgment resulting in motor vehicle crashes
  • Exhaustion/Fatigue

 


  The good news is that sleep apnea CAN be treated and different treatment options do exist. 

 

How can a Dental Appliance treat Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea Dental Appliance

 

Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test or “sleep study.”  A sleep study electronically transmits and records physical activities while you sleep.   There are several sleep centers in the area where the study can take place.  The recordings will then be analyzed by a physician to see if you suffer from the disorder.

If the results are diagnosed as mild to moderate for obstructive sleep apnea then a dental appliance could be the solution.  It is also a solution for those who are CPAP intolerant.  It is reported that a dental appliance is successful in as much as 75% for this type of diagnosis.  A dental appliance does not require surgery and is made to hold the jaw and tongue forward and the palate up.  This prevents restriction of the airway.  The increase in the airway passage is often enough to alleviate the pauses of breathing throughout sleep.  A dental appliance is small and convenient, unlike a CPAP machine, and must be worn every night.