Sleep Apnea

“People with apnea can get really sick…because their brain if fighting to stay alive.” — Michael Moore, DDS

Sleep apnea and related sleep disorders are a major cause of health problems for millions of Americans. The Journal of the California Dental Association reports, “90 million Americans who have sleep problems are undiagnosed.” Such disorders can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) and associated heart disorders, making it a potential killer.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when abnormalities in the shape of the air passages cause the soft tissues and tongue to block the breathing airways. This prevents your body from getting necessary oxygen. As a result, your brain sends your body signals to “wake up” and open the blocked air passage. Most patients do not even realize this is happening.

Mild cases might involve apnea episodes every four minutes on average, while severe cases can cause apneas during every minute of “sleep.” Beside physiological problems, sleeping on the back, obesity and alcohol/tranquilizer consumption have all been connected to sleep apnea.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• drowsiness during the daytime,
• the sensation that you never get a good night’s sleep,
• snoring or choking while sleeping,
• lack of REM sleep or dreaming.

Testing for sleep apnea involves your dentist, Dr. Brian Steele, and your medical doctor. With the help of Dr. Steele, your doctor arranges for you to receive sleep testing, to determine if you are having apnea episodes — periods when you stop sleeping. This may be done at home or at a sleep center. If testing determines you have a sleeping disorder, further examinations may determine that a simple dental appliance can help prevent apneas. Serious cases may be solved with oral surgery on the jaw, changing the orientation of the tongue.

Treatment

While many patients may be familiar with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, a treatment that forces air through the nasal passages during sleep, reports show that sixty percent of sleep apnea sufferers stop using this treatment after one year. This dangerous decision imperils their long-term health. Nevertheless, dental science has developed convenient appliances that restore free breathing without requiring attachment to machines at night. Internal Medicine News states that such oral appliances are more effective than surgery or over-counter-products for treating sleep apnea.

When appropriate, a dental device is specifically designed for your mouth. Only used during sleep, it simply pulls the lower jaw forward, which prevents the tongue from falling back into the airway. Mark Friedman, DDS and professor of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Southern California states: “For some people, it changes their life instantly. They wake up feeling good and can spend the day not having to sleep. Their spouse will sleep with them again. Their blood pressure goes down and it probably increases their longevity. Dentists have this whole new realm of people to treat.”

Visiting your dentist, Dr. Brian Steele, for treatment of your sleep disorders may be your first step to a good night’s sleep, improved health, better relationships and a sound body. Let Sacramento’s Downtown Dentistry help you with the latest improvements in oral science for treating sleep apnea.