Sleep Apnea Dentistry & Treatment –
Important- Chronic pain affects sleep.
Poor sleep leads to further pain, sleepy adults and hyperactive children.
Many adults snore. And the problem is worse in overweight peolpe. Sleep apnea is a syndrome which leads to the airway being blocked during sleep. When the airway is blocked we are not able to breath properly. What can cause this, is anything that makes your airway more narrow. Snoring and sleep apnea is common in all groups of people including children, this is especially common in mouth breathers.
Sleep apnea Dentistry – Oral Appliance Therapy
Sleep apnea dentists can sometimes control snoring with an oral appliance. An oral appliance can hold the airway at the back of the throat open during sleep and help prevent collapse. Sometimes this type of treatment is not appropriate though. Check with your sleep apnea dentist to find out. You will probably need to have xrays and a sleep study to help diagnose the problem.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
Anything that makes the airway narrow:
- E.N.T. (ear, nose and throat) blockages – can obstruct the flow of air through the nose.
- Lower Jaw Position – if the lower jaw is too far back, the tongue (which is connected to the lower jaw) will obstruct the airway behind the tongue.
- Obesity/ Overweight peolpe - People who are overweight will have an excess of fatty tissue deposited around the airways, causing narrower airways and so will be more likely to have air flow problems.
Dangers of Sleep Apnea
- Nothing good happens when breathing stops! The heart and lungs have to work harder to pump oxygen around the body. This can lead to heart failure.
- There is also new research saying that it can cause brain damage.
- Sleep apnea is something that can kill you as it can increase blood pressure and cause heart disease.
- Studies show that only a small percentage of people with sleep apnea have been diagnosed
- There are many people going to sleep every night without an adequate supply of oxygen.
- If you snore regularly there is a good chance that you have some level of sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
When looking into treatment for sleep apnea, it is important to think about the issue in terms of “Correction of the cause or causes of the sleep disorder.“ A sleep study will usually be carried out to assess severity and cause. Breathing / Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment
- Those who have an ear, nose, throat (E.N.T.) blockage such as large tonsils or adenoids can have them *removed
- *Sleep apnea surgery is involved
Jaw Positioning Sleep Apnea Treatment
- Those who have a jaw position problem can wear a simple removable dental appliance to hold the jaw in a forwards position.
- Also orthodontics can correct jaw positions (see FJO Orthopedics).
Weight Loss / Exercises Sleep Apnea Treatment
- Those who are simply overweight can exercise and eat healthily to reduce the fatty tissue deposits around the airway.
Info on Severe Sleep Apnea
When all else fails, or if the sleep apnea is severe, a CPAP machine can be used. What is a CPAP machine you ask? (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) This is like a reverse vacum cleaner – it forces air at high pressure down the airways helping the patient to get adequate amounts of oxygen into their lungs. There are difficulties for some patients with CPAP.These difficulties are things like:
- You have to sleep with a mask over your face
- You have to find space for the machine
- Some machines can be quite noisy
- The air which is forced across the teeth and gums before it reaches the airways dries the mouth and can be uncomfortable. (The dryness can damage teeth and gums)
Sleep Apnea Remedies and Solutions
So in closing, if the problem is not too severe, a much better solution is either having FJO type orthodontics to move the jaw into a better position and open the airway, or a sleep apnea dental device like a Mandibular Advancement Splint to hold the jaw forwards during sleep. The jaw should be held forwards in the position that best opens up the airway for that patient. When the jaw is forwards the tongue moves with it and so the tongue no longer blocks the airway. Of course, if there is an underlying ENT issue, an ENT specialist may advise removal of the offending tissues.
VIDEO: Throw Away Your CPAP & Start Living!
Disclaimer: May not be possible in all cases as everyone’s case is different.
Find out more…
- Click here for FJO Orthodontics Info
- Click here for info on Mouth Breathing
Questions?
- Get in touch? Contact an FJO Dentist or Email Us Here
