Discover How a Dentist Can Assist with Sleep Apnea Treatment
Have you experienced waking up in the night struggling to breathe? This could be a sign of sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder affecting over 20 million Americans. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can significantly impact your daily life and pose risks of accidents due to lack of sleep. Fortunately, there are dental solutions available for sleep apnea that can help you improve your quality of sleep. To learn more, continue reading below.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition where individuals experience brief pauses in breathing during sleep, often accompanied by symptoms like snoring and feeling breathless. These interruptions in breathing can disrupt sleep patterns and lead to various health risks by depriving the brain of sufficient oxygen, which can strain vital organs such as the heart and lungs. Seeking effective sleep apnea treatment from reputable dental specialists in locations like Scottsdale is crucial for addressing this disorder and ensuring better health outcomes.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are two main types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). OSA is more common and occurs when the airway is blocked, often by the collapse of soft tissues in the throat, leading to breathing difficulties during sleep. Dental professionals specializing in sleep disorders can provide treatments for OSA. On the other hand, CSA involves disruptions in the brain’s respiratory signals to the body, requiring specific diagnostic tests, such as a sleep study, to determine the type of sleep apnea affecting an individual.
Health Implications of Sleep Apnea
Untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of several long-term health problems, impacting both physical and mental well-being. Research indicates that individuals with sleep apnea are at a higher risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and mental disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. Moreover, chronic fatigue resulting from poor sleep quality can lead to accidents at work or while driving, posing serious risks to one’s safety and overall health.
Dentists’ Role in Treating Sleep Apnea
Dental sleep medicine professionals have developed oral appliances as an effective treatment option for sleep apnea. These custom-made devices, resembling mouthguards or retainers, help keep the airway open during sleep, promoting uninterrupted breathing. Mandibular repositioning devices and tongue-retaining devices are commonly used oral appliances tailored to each patient’s specific needs to address sleep apnea symptoms.
Mandibular Repositioning Oral Appliance
A mandibular repositioning oral appliance functions by advancing the lower jaw to prevent airway obstruction during sleep, making it a popular choice in dental sleep medicine for treating sleep apnea.
Tongue Retaining Oral Appliance
The tongue retaining oral appliance is designed to address airway blockage caused by the tongue moving backward during sleep, aiding in maintaining open airflow and improving breathing quality.
