There are millions of people who wake up feeling groggy and grumpy, even after a full night’s sleep. Your sleep has a direct impact on your health, well-being, and overall quality of life. When you aren’t getting a good night’s sleep due to snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, you can find yourself becoming irritable, distracted, and even facing an increased risk of severe health problems.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing frequently during sleep, sometimes up to hundreds of times during the night.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs in about 25 percent of men and nearly 10 percent of women. It can affect people of all ages, including babies and children, but it is most common in people over the age of forty and those who are overweight. Excessive weight, a large neck, structural abnormalities reducing the diameter of the upper airway, such as nasal obstruction, a low-hanging soft palate, enlarged tonsils, or a small jaw with an overbite are common in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea?
Many times the first signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are recognized not by the patient, but by the bed partner. Many of those affected with OSA have no sleep complaints, even if they are showing symptoms.
The most common symptoms of OSA include:
Snoring
Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
Restlessness during sleep
Sudden awakenings with a sensation of gasping or choking
Dry mouth or sore throat upon awakening
Intellectual impairment, such as trouble concentrating, forgetfulness, or irritability
Night sweats
Sexual dysfunction
Headaches
What if I have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
If your doctor has diagnosed you with OSA, the gold standard for treating it is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. But, for various reasons, CPAP may not be the best option for many patients. Another increasingly common option is oral appliance therapy (a device similar to a mouth guard used by athletes), provided by a dentist. Many dentists (including Smile New Braunfels) are now including dental sleep medicine treatment in their specialties, which focuses on the use of oral appliances to treat snoring and OSA.
How do oral appliances treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
In OSA, the muscles at the back of your throat relax, which allows nearby tissues to block your airway. Your tongue may also slide back to block your airway. For patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy, as provided by a dentist, can help keep the airway open during sleep.
Custom-fitted sleep apnea appliances can hold the airway open by bringing the lower jaw slightly forward, or can hold the tongue, preventing it from falling backwards during sleep, causing airway obstruction. They can also do both of these actions simultaneously so you can breathe better while you sleep.
How do I order an oral appliance for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
If you and your doctor decide that an oral device is a good option, you will need a referral to a dentist experienced in dental sleep medicine. The dentist will evaluate if you are a candidate for this treatment. If so, an impression of your teeth will be made. The dentist will make the device and call you back for a fitting. You will also be given a morning repositioner to realign your bite after the appliance is removed. You may have to go back to the dentist for further custom adjustments to optimize care. Once the fitting is completed, it is recommended that you have another sleep test to see how the appliance is working for you. Further adjustments may be necessary.
Don’t wait for better sleep or better health. Good sleep is important for your overall health, and oral appliance therapy is covered by many insurance plans. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnea, contact us to schedule an initial exam and consultation.
