Sleep apnea

What Is Snoring?

What causes snoring? At least 30% of adults snore on a regular basis, but that doesn’t mean snoring is normal. Airway blockage is the root cause of all snoring problems.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Drowsy during the day? Excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, gasping during sleep, morning headaches, night sweats are signs of obstructive sleep apnea.

Why see a Dentist?

Why are anti-snoring mouthpieces risky? Mouthpieces can cause tooth movement, TMJ and bruxism. They can also stop snoring without treating sleep apnea.

What are Treatments for Sleep Apnea?

• Oral appliances are devices that fit into your mouth like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer. They are worn while you sleep to keep your airway open by preventing the collapse of your tongue and throat tissues. This helps people who snore or have sleep apnea breathe more easily during the night. Oral appliances are often used for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or for those who find it difficult to use a CPAP machine. They can also be combined with other treatments. To find the right therapy for you, consult with both your sleep doctor and a sleep medicine dentist.
• CPAP (continuous positive air pressure applied through a nasal mask) is the most common and standard form of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The CPAP machine consists of a face or nasal mask that is connected to a pump, providing a positive flow of air into the nasal passages to keep the airway open. This pressure ensures that the airway doesn’t collapse during sleep. CPAP is recommended as the first line of treatment for patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Patients with mild-to-moderate sleep apnea can usually choose which therapy they would prefer.
• Surgery is not considered as the first line of treatment for snoring or sleep apnea but may be an effective option for patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or oral appliance therapy. With many surgical options available, it is up to the surgeon to find where the obstruction is in the patient’s upper airway or nasal passage and determine what the best solution is. Surgery is typically more effective in the treatment of snoring than for sleep apnea.
• Other therapy attempts can include lifestyle adjustments to improve a person’s condition. Snoring can sometimes be improved by losing weight, limiting smoking and alcohol intake, or avoiding sedatives. In some patients, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are related to sleeping on one’s back. In these instances, improvements can be seen by sleeping on the side rather than the back.

Schedule a visit with Orthodontics by Birth & Fletcher today to explore effective treatments and improve your quality of sleep.