Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea is a potentially dangerous sleep disorder, characterized by disruptions in your breathing while you are asleep. The condition is most commonly recognized by snoring at night, and unexplained fatigue during the day. Usually it is the bed partner who first notices that the person is struggling to breathe.

Sleep apnea is a deceiving sleep disorder; as much as 90 percent of people suffering from this condition do not know they have it. Sleep apnea can be dangerous because it can increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three main forms of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: When your airway is blocked by your tissue, often as a result of the relaxing of muscles during sleep--the most common form of sleep apnea
• Central sleep apnea: Caused by the failure of your brain to send the correct signals to the muscles responsible for your breathing.
• Mixed or complex sleep apnea: When both forms of central and obstructive sleep apnea exist.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

If you or someone you love exhibits any of the following symptoms, you should talk to a sleep apnea dentist to help find relief for this disorder:

• Loud snoring: about 70% of obstructive sleep apnea sufferers snore, but snoring does not always mean you have sleep apnea.
• Episodes of not breathing (apnea), for a clinical diagnosis of apnea, these occur 15 times or more per hour. How many apnea episodes you have will indicate the severity of your sleep apnea.
• Choking or gasping spells during the night
• Restless tossing and turning during sleep
• Unexplainable fatigue during the day

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Often times, sleep apnea can be treated with a dental appliance worn at night. If your sleep apnea is caused by your tongue resting on your airway, a tongue-retaining device can address the problem. Sleep apnea caused by the incorrect position of your jaw may be treated with a mouth device, similar to an athletic mouthguard, or a device that is strapped around your head to adjust your jaw position. Severe sleep apnea may require the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This is the most effective treatment for patients that tolerate it, though less than half do.

At Aesthetic Dentistry of Valencia, Dr. Joel Miller and his talented dental team can help you or your partner find relief from the potentially dangerous condition of sleep apnea. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, please contact our office today. Proudly serving Santa Clarita, Valencia, Saugus, Newhall and San Fernando areas.