Snoring And Sleep Apnea

Many people snore. Snoring may just be an irritating nuisance to your partner, or can cause a strain on your relationships. It is important to distinguish between snoring and Sleep Apnea.  30 to 50% of people in the US snore at one time or another. Sometimes this snoring can be heard rooms away.  Many times people are not aware they even have this condition and will even say they sleep well.

There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. A well qualified dentist can help treat mild to moderate Sleep Apnea.  This is usually a result of an obstruction in the throat or mouth.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea sometimes simply called OSA is often associated with snoring.  Some of the characteristics of OSA are as follows:

• Snoring with a lapse of up to 10 seconds or more of breathing
• Choking or gasping during sleep
• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness or EDS
• Mental function problems/poor judgment
• Restless sleep
• Raised blood pressure
• Depression
• Chest pain at night
• Larger neck
• Crowding of the airway
• Morning headaches

EDS or Excessive Daytime Sleepiness is a symptom of OSA.  There are many health risks associated with Sleep Apnea. The body is deprived of oxygen, causing you to wake many times during the night.  A person may not even know they did not get a good night’s sleep.  This can also lead to weight gain, headaches, diabetes, and stress. The increase in blood pressure from the lack of oxygen can also lead to a stroke or heart attack.

Sleep Apnea can be managed with a surgery treatment by your doctor, or the following non-surgical methods:

• CPAP-Continuous Positive Airway Pressure- Face mask
• Oral appliance custom fitted for your teeth-Dentist adjusted for comfort (treatment of choice for mild to moderate sleep apnea)

Contact your dentist to help you understand what you can expect with the oral appliance therapy.



Back to dental care home page