Sleep Apnea and Dental Sleep Disorders

Snoring Treatment in Smart Dental

Dr. Samuel has been treating snoring in Smart Dental, for many years with specifically designed custom appliance therapy. Mild to moderate snoring or sleep apnea can be treated well with appliance therapy. There are several appliances available with a proven track record.

Snoring is No Joke...

Nearly 1/2 of American of adults snore. The problem is worse when you are overweight. Statistics show that obesity is on the increase and with the problem of snoring.

Snoring occurs when there is a partial obstruction to the free flow of air through the mouth and nose. The sound occurs when loose structures in the throat, like the uvula and soft palate, vibrate as air passes over them. Snoring can get worse when the muscles in the back of the throat are too relaxed either from drugs that induce sleep or alcohol consumption. Snoring can also be caused by a large uvula and soft palate, nasal congestion, a deviated septum or other obstructions in the nasal and pharyngeal airways. In children, large tonsils and adenoids can be the cause of snoring. Pregnant women snore because of a narrowing of the airway and increased weight.

Can snoring be serious?

Snoring can be serious both socially and medically.

Snoring can disrupt marriages and cause sleepless nights for bed partners.

Medically, snoring can be the precursor of obstructive sleep apnea that has been linked to heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke. In its own right, snoring has been linked to Type II Diabetes. Sleep apnea usually interrupts loud snoring with a period of silence in which no air passes into the lungs. Eventually, the lack of oxygen and the increase carbon dioxide will awaken you forcing the airway to open with a loud gasp. If this occurs please speak to your physician or dentist about this as this can directly affect your health.

You may not be aware of your snoring but your bed partner is! Seeking professional advice can help you both because snoring not only causes disruption in sleep it can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea.

If your child snores, speak to your pediatrician about the problem. Nose and throat problems as well as obesity may be the cause. Treating these conditions could help your child sleep better at night and help your child's mental and physical development to stay on track.

Types of Sleep Apnea:

There are three types of apnea. In all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.

 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most common is usually caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes closes completely during sleep.

 Central sleep apnea, is not caused by a blocked airway but rather the brain's failure to signal the muscles to breathe.

 Mixed apnea, is a combination of the two.

With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Yet still because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated. Several treatment options exist, and research into additional options continues.

Treatment Options:

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is pressurized air from a bedside machine. The air is delivered through a tube that connects to a mask, covering the nose. The pressure of the air forces and maintains the airway open while you sleep. This is a very successful treatment option, however it is only a great treatment if it is used! Many people find the masks very uncomfortable and cumbersome to wear. The noise created by the machines can also cause difficulty sleeping for the patient and partner. Also, people find that the machines are difficult to travel with.

TIRED OF CPAP? We have an alternative!

Oral Appliance Therapy is completely non-invasive and painless. It is a mouthpiece, for patients with primary snoring or mild to moderate Sleep Apnea. They are small devices that you wear while you sleep. They are similar in size to an Orthodontic Retainer or Sports Mouthguard. They are very comfortable, easy to wear, and easy to travel with. These appliances can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments. Oral Appliances work by attempting to prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of your throat, keeping your airway open to allow adequate air intake. They work to reposition the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate, and uvula. Oral Appliance Therapy involves selecting an appropriate design , and then custom fitting it to your teeth.

Sleep Apnea is a life threatening disorder and should not go un-treated because you can't wear your CPAP! We can make a custom-fit plastic mouthpiece for treating sleep apnea. The mouthpiece will adjust your lower jaw and your tongue to help keep your airways open while you sleep.