Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which a person stops breathing periodically throughout the night. Left untreated, it can affect quality of life and health significantly. Conscientious dentists like Dr. Kennedy are very attuned to the signs of the disorder because they know early detection could save a life.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea, in which a person stops breathing during sleep and then wakes gasping for air (often without realizing it). This happens when the soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse, blocking the airway and causing snoring or sputtering. In advanced cases these breathing pauses can occur hundreds of times per night.

Because sufferers are constantly waking, they don't get the restful sleep their bodies need. A chronically exhausted person is more vulnerable to automobile and workplace accidents and to obesity. Studies link sleep apnea to higher risk of stroke, cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Dentists are at the forefront of detection because some signs appear in the mouth first — chronic tooth grinding wears down the surfaces of teeth and is easily noticed during a routine exam, and patients who wake with a dry mouth may also be showing early signs.

Signs You Suffer from Sleep Apnea

The most obvious sign is loud, uncontrollable snoring — usually pointed out by a significant other. Other symptoms include:

• Waking up exhausted despite a seemingly full night of sleep
• Waking with a sore throat or dry mouth
• Excessive daytime fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating or performing other cognitive functions

Diagnosing & Treating Sleep Apnea

If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or with Dr. Kennedy. He can refer you to a sleep medicine specialist for a sleep study. While Dr. Kennedy is very knowledgeable about the symptoms and treatment of sleep apnea, he cannot formally diagnose the condition.

If a specialist confirms sleep apnea, Dr. Kennedy can fit you for a custom oral appliance to prevent further episodes, and provide guidance on lifestyle changes that support better sleep.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three main types:

• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) — the brain fails to send signals to the muscles that control breathing.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) — the airway is blocked by excess tissue at the back of the tongue, throat or nose. This is the most common type.
• Mixed Sleep Apnea (MSA) — also called complex sleep apnea, a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea.

Am I at Risk of Developing Sleep Apnea?

Anyone can develop sleep apnea regardless of age or gender, but several factors increase the risk:

• Gender — men are twice as likely as women to develop sleep apnea
• Age — adults 40 and older are more likely to be diagnosed
• Being overweight or obese — excess weight around the abdomen, chin or neck can compress the airway
• Family history of sleep apnea
• A lower jaw that is smaller than the upper jaw
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
• Regular consumption of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers
• Smoking, which causes inflammation and fluid retention in the airways

Reducing Your Risk

Whether or not you're at higher risk, several habits can reduce the occurrence of sleep apnea or help you cope with symptoms:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eliminate alcohol, tobacco, sedatives and other substances that depress breathing
• Practice sleeping on your side rather than on your back

What Is a Sleep Study?

A sleep study is a test that measures how well you sleep and is used to diagnose sleep disorders. Dr. Kennedy or your general physician may refer you to a sleep specialist — a neurologist, pulmonologist, otolaryngologist or other professional with special training in sleep disorders.

A sleep study can be performed at home or in a sleep laboratory under direct supervision. Special equipment records your heart rate, blood pressure, eye movements, brain activity, chest movement, blood oxygen, airflow through the nose and snoring. The specialist pays close attention to the number of breathing cessations to determine whether sleep apnea is present, and uses the results to recommend an appropriate course of treatment.

Health Risks of Sleep Apnea

While sleep apnea is associated with well-known symptoms such as snoring and fatigue, it is also linked to other serious health issues.

High Blood Pressure

Sleep apnea, especially in severe cases, can lead to elevated blood pressure. In healthy people, blood pressure naturally decreases at night. Those with obstructive sleep apnea experience less of this dip, increasing the risk for major cardiovascular problems — and sleep apnea may also affect blood pressure during the day.

Heart Disease

Untreated sleep apnea puts patients at risk of irregular heartbeat, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. If you already have heart failure, sleep apnea can worsen the condition.

Stroke

The risk of stroke increases in patients with sleep apnea — and the more severe the apnea, the greater the risk. Repeated episodes of disrupted breathing reduce oxygen saturation and cause changes to blood vessels in the brain.

Diabetes

Sleep apnea makes diabetes harder to manage. When breathing is disrupted during sleep, carbon dioxide in the blood rises, leading to insulin resistance — the body cannot effectively use insulin — which raises blood sugar and worsens diabetes symptoms.

Sleep Apnea Treatment at Turnagain Dental

Turnagain Dental uses oral appliance therapy to treat sleep apnea. For patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliances help keep the tongue from blocking the throat or reposition the lower jaw, keeping the airway unobstructed and reducing disrupted breathing episodes throughout the night.

If an oral appliance is right for you, Dr. Kennedy will take an impression of your teeth to create the device. Once it's ready, you'll come in for a fitting to ensure the appliance is secure and comfortable. He'll provide detailed instructions for use and cleaning, and may make adjustments over time to keep it effective.

Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy

• Improved symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea — daytime fatigue, moodiness and trouble concentrating are reduced or eliminated
• Eliminates snoring — a properly positioned jaw keeps the airway open with fewer breathing interruptions
• Ideal for patients intolerant of CPAP — quiet, comfortable, and requires no electricity
• Comfortable and effective — custom fitted to your mouth's unique anatomy

Contact Turnagain Dental

If you suspect sleep apnea, don't wait. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Kennedy today — better sleep means a longer, healthier life.