How Snoring Can Point to a Bigger Issue

Not everyone who snores will have an underlying health issue, but for some people, snoring can be an indicator of a more serious problem.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder in which the airway is so obstructed during sleep that the person will stop breathing at different points throughout the night. The body will eventually wake itself up, but these pauses in breathing mean your body isn’t getting enough oxygen, which can lead to chronic health issues, including heart disease and diabetes [1].

Alcohol and tobacco use, being overweight, and even certain medications can influence your risk for snoring. People who sleep on their back also are more likely to snore, so while snoring doesn’t always mean you have a sleep disorder, if you experience daytime fatigue even after sleeping all night, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor to see if sleep apnea could be the culprit.

What Are Oral Appliances?

Oral appliances are a simple device that fits easily in your mouth. Unlike continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, an oral appliance fits similarly to a retainer and gently repositions your jaw to keep your airway open during sleep [2].

Many people with OSA and even those who snore without a sleep disorder prefer oral appliances over CPAP therapy, which can be cumbersome and noisy during the night. Oral appliances have been shown to reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea and stop cessations of breathing during the night [3].

If you snore or have a sleep apnea diagnosis, your dentist can fit you for an oral appliance. Custom made for your unique smile, these devices are comfortable, easy to use, and can alleviate your snoring and associated symptoms!

Your Dentist Isn’t Just for Teeth

Your dentist is your partner in helping support not just your oral health, but your overall wellness as it relates to your smile. Even if you snore but aren’t sure if you have sleep apnea, your dentist can refer you to a sleep specialist for a potential diagnosis and assist with your treatment.

If snoring has impacted your health, an oral appliance could be the answer to your symptoms. Ask your dentist about oral appliance therapy and if it could help alleviate your snoring during your next appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-snoring-always-a-sign-of-
2. https://www.aadsm.org/oral_appliance_therapy.php
3. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190416093729.htm

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Although dentists cannot provide an official diagnosis for sleep apnea, these professionals are
often the first people to come into contact with the disorder and can provide further guidance
and even initiate treatment.

Here’s how your dentist can help with your sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Since patients usually see their dentist more often than their primary care doctor, your dentist
is often able to recognize the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea before your doctor is able to
make the diagnosis.

These signs and symptoms include enamel erosion as a result of dry mouth from snoring, teeth
grinding (bruxism), and inflamed gum tissue.

Your dentist may ask you questions such as whether or not you wake up with a headache, if you
snore, if you have other health conditions linked with sleep apnea—such as high blood
pressure—or if you feel fatigued throughout the day.

Getting a Diagnosis

If your dentist suspects you may be suffering from sleep apnea, he or she can refer you to a
sleep specialist for an official diagnosis.

Although dentists are trained to recognize and treat sleep apnea, a confirmed diagnosis from a
sleep specialist is required before treatment can be done. This is to ensure you’re getting the
correct diagnosis and treatment plan that you need to get better.

Your sleep specialist will likely recommend you have an overnight sleep study done to
determine if you have sleep apnea. Once a diagnosis is made, you can talk about your options
and come up with the right course of treatment for you.

Receiving Treatment

Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines have long been the traditional
form of treatment for sleep apnea, many patients are unable to comply with this form of
treatment due to discomfort or inconvenience.

This is where your dentist comes in. Your dentist can help treat your sleep apnea through oral
sleep appliances, which aren’t much different from a retainer but will slightly shift your jaw
forward in order to keep your airway open while sleeping, therefore eliminating your cessation
of breathing during sleep and reducing your sleep apnea symptoms.

People who receive oral sleep appliance therapy from their dentist are often more able to
comply with their treatment and see their sleep apnea symptoms disappear once they begin
getting a good night’s sleep again.

Since sleep apnea can affect your entire life, from your daily performance to your risk for
chronic diseases, getting an official diagnosis is essential to receiving the right treatment that
can help restore your quality of life. Your dentist is an integral part of this process, so visit your
dentist today if you suspect you suffer from sleep apnea!

The post How Does a Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnea? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Now there is a solution with sleep apnea dentistry. Your dentist can develop custom sleep appliances to help effectively treat sleep apnea. Sleep appliances place the jaw in a position to help maintain an open airway during sleep. Custom sleep devices are sleek and ergonomically designed with acrylic to allow for freedom of lateral and vertical movements along with creating more space for the tongue.

[media-credit id=1 align=”alignleft” width=”350″][/media-credit]Sleep apnea dentists are experts and specialists in creating oral appliances, and these appliances not only treat the sleep apnea and snoring, but they are specially-designed to be kind and sensitive to the needs of the jaw joint.

An at-home sleep study can help map out your sleep and determine the severity of your sleep apnea. Following those results the dentist then measures the airway using acoustic sound waves to determine the best jaw position. A record of this is taken along with a mold of the patient’s teeth.

When your dentist delivers the device, the bite is checked and the fit is check just to make sure the quality of the device is as it should be.

Sleep apnea has reached dramatic proportions the United States, and up to ninety percent of these patients are still un-diagnosed. One of the reasons why dentists have gotten involved in this field is that ninety percent of the obstruction occurs at the level behind the upper and lower jaws or at the soft palate and the tongue.

The typical patient we may think of as suffering from sleep apnea is a 55-year-old man on the couch, TV going and he’s sitting and sleeping on the couch snoring away, however, we don’t want to over stereotype, as people today of all ages, gender and physical condition can and do experience sleep apnea. We treat many male and female patients, who are younger and who are much older, which reinforces the fact that sleep apnea is wide spread and not confined to specific demographics.

Putting on your sleep apnea device is very easy and once in bed you will be able to fall asleep knowing that your sleep will be healthier and will not be interrupted and neither will your partner’s sleep. You should feel much more refreshed and energetic throughout your day with the knowledge you are getting healthier.

The post What is sleep apnea? How can my dentist help? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.