snoring & sleep apnea - ALPINE DENTISTRY
HAS SNORING MESSED YOUR LIFE ENOUGH?
At Alpine Dentistry, we are constantly working to help our patients work towards a healthy and beautiful smile that they will adore. Along with the concern for your teeth’ health, we also care about bodily health and helping our patients in any way that we can. Although it may not seem like a dental issue, sleep apnea and snoring can be limited and treated with the help of a dental professional.
Signs That Your Airway or That Of Loved One Is Compromised
- Restless Sleep
- Bed Wetting
- Swollen Adenoids
- Dark Circles Under Eyes
- Mouth Breathing
- Swollen Tonsils
- Difficulty in school
- Chronic Allergies
- Snoring
- Daytime Drowsiness
- Sleep Issues
- Crowded/Crooked Teeth
What Is Sleep Apnea?
According to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
“Sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They may occur 30 times or more an hour. Normal breathing starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.
Sleep apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep. When your breathing pauses or becomes shallow, you’ll often move out of deep sleep and into a light sleep. As a result, the quality of your sleep is poor, which makes you tired during the day.”
Sleep apnea has many adverse effects on your overall health and the quality of each day.
There are a couple of different types of sleep apnea, including:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea is caused by the soft tissues in the back of the mouth or throat, such as the tonsils, tongue, uvula, and soft palate, getting weaker and collapsing during sleep. When these muscles collapse often, it blocks the airway, which causes snoring. Because your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen when this happens, it signals to your body to wake up to reopen your airway.
Central Sleep Apnea: This type of sleep apnea is a little harder to diagnose and treat because the brain is involved. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain does not deliver the necessary information to the muscles that govern breathing, unlike obstructive sleep apnea, which is caused by a mechanical condition that restricts the airway. Both types of sleep apnea share many of the same signs and symptoms, but central sleep apnea also affects people with underlying illnesses.
Before we can treat you for your sleep apnea, it needs to be diagnosed by a professional. To be diagnosed, you must undergo a sleep test. These tests can be administered by a medical professional. If you are looking to receive a sleep test, please call our office to help you acquire more information.
Since there are different types of sleep apnea, it is impossible to say precisely what kind of treatment you could receive. The most common forms of treatment include:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine: This device uses constant airway pressure to prevent the soft tissues from collapsing, allowing the air to flow correctly. Each person using a CPAP wears a mask during sleep.
Oral Appliance: In some cases, it might be best to use an oral appliance to keep your airway open for airflow. These appliances are made by a dental professional and completely customized to your mouth and condition.
You Don't Have To Suffer In Silence
Sleep apnea and a compromised airway affect more than your sleeping patterns. Their implications on your health are far-reaching.
Dr. Jensen has been working on dentistry sleep wellness solutions for over ten years.
Dr. Jensen has seen the difference that sleep apnea treatment brings. Especially for children. They are big sleep wellness advocates for children. If you or your loved one suffers from mild or moderate sleep apnea, we are here to help!
