Sleep Apnea Treatment
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that stops its victims from breathing while sleeping. These breathing stops can last for a minute or more and happen repeatedly. It is also called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
OSA is a deadly disorder. It can chop off up to 10 years from someone’s life when left untreated. It increases health risks for the following health issues:
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Memory loss
- Impaired concentration
If you think that you face obstructive sleep apnea, it is necessary to make progress in this regard as quickly as possible. There are various aspects that the professionals will have to look at that range from central sleep apnea, as snoring or sleep apnea can create significant problems if it becomes a severe issue.
If you are looking to deal with obstructive sleep apnea, you may find that Dr. Molly Rodgers can help you with treatments for sleep apnea. For instance, dental professionals like Dr. Molly Rodgers could provide oral appliances as a part of oral appliance therapy to help you with your central sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment
Most people are familiar with snoring. More serious than snoring, sleep apnea is a moderate to severe sleep disorder where people reportedly stop breathing during sleep because of an airway blockage. Edmonton dentist, Dr. Molly Rodgers, is happy to offer free consultation to anyone concerned about their snoring or of a loved one. If, after thorough examination and health history, sleep apnea is suspected, Dr. Rodgers would refer you or your loved one for a Level 3 sleep test. When the test results come back positive for sleep apnea, trial of CPAP is always the first choice for treatment. For those who are not able to tolerate a CPAP or just snore and do not have sleep apnea, Dr. Rogers can custom fabricate an oral appliance.
Connection between sleep apnea and dentistry
The first sign of sleep apnea – tooth grinding – is found in the mouth. This is why dentists are better positioned to detect sleep apnea before general practitioners.
Other signs and symptoms of this issue includes:
- Scalloped tongue
- Enlarged tongue
- Enlarged tonsils
- Small jaw
- Redness in the throat.
- Daytime sleepiness
- People with moderate obstructive sleep apnea may notice other issues as well.
For instance, you may notice problems with your tongue and soft palate. But what is that and how does it affect your upper airway? Well, remember that a larger or longer soft palate can have an impact on your airway at a very technical level. Further, a specific type of jaw can add more problems when combined with a larger tongue. The key issue is that it can have an impact on your hypopharyngeal space.
If you notice issues and think you need assistance when it comes to the upper airway segment in your body, reach out to our professionals today.
Further, if you are looking for solutions for obstructive sleep apnea and have noticed problems with snoring and sleep patterns, work with Dr. Molly Rodgers. You will notice that will ask you questions about other solutions you have tried, such as the positive airway pressure CPAP, or other solutions that you have tried in the past.
The idea is to present medically reviewed airway pressure devices, mandibular advancement devices, and more.
Treatment and management
Dentists are not incensed to diagnose sleep apnea. If their assessment indicates sleep apnea, they will refer the patient to an accredited sleep center. There, the patient will be observed during their sleep and to confirm if they suffer from sleep apnea and to what degree.
While dentists cannot diagnose sleep apnea, they can screen patients and make recommendations. They can also suggest treatment options.
The standard course of action for sleep apnea treatment is CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). Oral appliances can also be used for those with minor degrees of sleep apnea.
Do You Need A Sleep Assessment?
If, after a thorough examination and health history, sleep apnea is suspected, Dr. Rodgers would refer you or your loved one for a Level 3 sleep test. When the test results come back positive for sleep apnea, trial of CPAP is always the first choice for treatment. For those who are not able to tolerate a CPAP or just snore and do not have sleep apnea, Dr. Rogers can custom fabricate an oral appliance.
This custom-fitted appliance is effective for sleep apnea because it offers:
- A snug, custom fit for just your mouth
- Ideal jaw positioning for optimal air intake, regardless of sleep posture
- A comfortable application (especially compared to the CPAP machine)
- Tension is adjustable by your dental professional giving your custom trays
- More adaptability
This custom-fitted appliance is effective for sleep apnea because it offers:
- A snug, custom fit for just your mouth
- Ideal jaw positioning for optimal air intake, regardless of sleep posture
- A comfortable application (especially compared to the CPAP machine)
- Tension is adjustable by your dental professional giving your custom trays
- More adaptability
How will Our Dentist Conduct a Sleep Assessment?
People with obstructive sleep issues will want to move forward with an assessment sooner than later to improve their overall quality of life.
There are two stages of assessment; the first part asks the patient questions on their medical history and sleep patterns. The second stage is the physical examination of the mouth.
Let us take a look at these two segments of the assessment and how they play a crucial in helping you with your snoring and sleep apnea issues.
Medical history
When reviewing medical history, doctors lookout for any of the following:
- periodontal disease
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- GERD
- Enlargement of the tongue or tonsils.
Sleep Patterns via a Sleep Study
The assessment also includes a session with the patient.
Here, the doctor inquiries about sleep patterns and quality. There are three things to focus on here:
- Snoring: The primary symptom of sleep apnea is snoring. If the patient has been told that they snore, they might be suffering from sleep apnea.
- Headaches: Sleep apnea can occur up to 30 times within an hour of sleep. This reduces sleep quality and can cause the patient to have a headache in the morning. However, this isn’t a definitive symptom.
- Sleepiness: People with sleep apnea do not get quality sleep during the night. This causes them to feel sleepy during the day. Someone who sleeps enough hours but still experiences sleepiness during the day might be suffering from sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea may be difficult to diagnose or address because it occurs during sleep.
You should seek a free consultation with Edmonton dentist Dr. Rodgers if you know you or your loved ones experience (or if you suspect the following):
- Loud snoring
- Excessive daytime fatigue on a regular basis
- High blood pressure
- A dry mouth when you wake up
- Regular difficulty concentrating
- An observation of your breathing stopping during sleep
Call us For a Consultation
Sleep apnea is serious and can lead to compromised functions in your overall health. Our dental treatment serves more than just teeth. Discover peaceful relief and restful uninterrupted sleep free of snoring. Call our Edmonton dentist for your sleep apnea for snoring consultation today.