Ask the Dentist!
Sleep Apnea and Dentistry
Sleep apnea is a potentially deadly sleep disorder where during sleep, breathing stops and starts repeatedly depriving the body of oxygen. This can occur by obstruction of the airway called obstructive sleep apnea, or neurologically in the brain called central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common and will be the focus of this post.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea. Disruption of airflow into the lungs can cause snoring and potentially apnea. Enlarged tonsils, obesity, sleep position (sleep on your back) and nasal obstructions can all alter or block the airflow. Although snoring is not an absolute sign of sleep apnea, it can be a clue that there may be a problem that needs to be treated.
Sleep apnea can be potentially fatal to patients with underlying heath conditions, especially heart problems. When the body is deprived of oxygen a fight or flight response results, like when someone sneaks up behind you and scares you. This results in a release of adrenalin and a marked increase in heart rate and blood pressure. For a person with a heart condition, this can result in a heart attack while they sleep and potentially death. It is believed that the great defensive end, Reggie White, died in his sleep as a result of sleep apnea. He had a CPAP machine but was not wearing it on the night he died. A simple sleep test can screen for sleep apnea and let you know if you are at risk.
Once diagnosed, sleep apnea can be treated. The gold standard for treating sleep apnea is a CPAP machine, which when worn at night, keeps air flowing to your lungs.
This device is typically fitted at a sleep center where it will be monitored and adjusted as needed. For patients that cannot tolerate a CPAP, a dentist may be able to help. The goal in treating sleep apnea is to make the condition better, not cure it. Although not as effective as a CPAP, a mouth piece worn at night can stabilize the airway and greatly improve the airflow to the lungs.
This is especially effective for those patients who sleep on their backs. With either treatment, a sleep study must be done to determine the severity of apnea. Today, this test can be done at home with a take home sleep test instead of in a sleep lab. This, in my opinion, gives a much more accurate picture of what a typical night’s sleep is looks like for the patient.
So, if you snore or feel like you haven’t slept, a sleep test may hold the answer. We have sleep tests available in our office so give us a call: (225)926-4203.