Sleep Apnea Dentistry

Apneic events or involuntary breathing pauses often take place as many as 20-60 times per hour with snoring and choking episodes.

While snoring is common with OSA, not all who snore have obstructive sleep apnea.

Diagnosing and treating OSA early is essential as it is often associated with an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

OSA is often managed using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine and/or dental appliances that help reposition the tongue and lower jaw and minimize the collapse of soft tissue at the back of the throat.

Because the signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap with other sleeping disorders, it is often difficult to diagnose.

Common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea include:

• Chronic snoring
• Episodes where you stop breathing during sleep
• Gasping or choking for air during sleep
• Dry mouth during sleep and after waking up
• Headaches after waking up
• Insomnia
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability

Less common than obstructive sleep apnea where the airway is blocked, central sleep apnea stops and starts your breathing repeatedly during sleep when the brain fails to send signals to the breathing muscles.

Complex sleep apnea syndrome or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea is when someone has both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.

Signs and symptoms of central sleep apnea include:

• Episodes of stopped breathing or abnormal breathing patterns during sleep
• Abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath
• Shortness of breath that's relieved by sitting up
• Insomnia
• Daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Chest pain at night
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes
• Headaches upon waking up
• Snoring
• Lethargy or no tolerance for exercise

Anyone, regardless of age, can have sleep apnea. The top risk factors include:

• A person over 40
• A person who is overweight
• A person with large tonsils, a small jaw, or a large tongue
• A family history of sleep apnea

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in many health problems, including but not limited to:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart failure, heart attack, or irregular heartbeat
• Diabetes
• Depression

A custom-fitted oral appliance or mouthpiece should be worn by most people who snore or have OSA.

The mouthpiece moves your bottom jaw forward to make more room at the back of the throat. This helps keep the airway open, causing less obstruction, and minimizing snoring and sleep apnea.

Other treatment options

• Adjust sleeping position
• Continuous positive air pressure (CPAP)
• Surgery. Removal of tonsils, soft palate typically, when other treatment options are unsuccessful.

There are many different types of sleep apnea oral appliances approved by the FDA. The success rate is quite high when using oral appliances. For severe OSA, CPAP is the most effective treatment option.

Portability – Because they are small and lightweight and do not require electricity or batteries, oral anti-snoring appliances are excellent for travel whereas CPAP machines can be bulky and take up space.

Comfort – For mild to moderate OSA, oral appliances are just as effective as CPAP therapy and are more comfortable.

Low Maintenance - Mouthpieces are low maintenance and you won't need to reorder supplies or parts.

Quiet – Oral appliances are silent, unlike the CPAP.

Discreet – Since the appliance is worn at night, there is no stigma associated with a treatment or disease.

Affordable – While most insurance companies cover both the CPAP and dental oral appliances for sleep apnea, the oral appliance is often more affordable.

Long-term results – In most cases, the oral appliance treatment option has excellent long-term results, since most people continue to use them because of their comfort, convenience, and affordability.