Sleep Apnea

The Dentists at Family Dental Group have specific training and know-how that enables them to play a prominent role in managing the care and airways of patients of all ages with impaired respiration and sleep-related breathing disorders.

Normal Breathing

When you breathe normally, air passes through the nose and past the flexible structures in the back of the throat such as the soft palate, uvula and tongue. While you are awake, muscles hold the airway open. When you fall asleep, these muscles relax but, normally, the airway stays open.

Snoring

Snoring is the sound of obstructed breathing during sleep. While snoring can be harmless benign snoring), it can also be the sign of a more serious medical condition which progresses from upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) to obstructive sleep apnea. (OSA)

What causes snoring?

Snoring occurs when the structures in the throat are large and when the muscles relax enough to cause the airway to narrow and partially obstruct the flow of air. As air tries to passes through these obstructions, the throat structures vibrate causing the sound we know as snoring. Large tonsils, a long soft palate and uvula and excess fat deposits contribute to soft tissue narrowing.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the tongue is sucked against the back of the throat. This blocks the upper airway and air flow stops. When the oxygen level in the brain becomes low enough, the sleeper partially awakens, the obstruction in the throat clears and the flow of air starts again, usually with a loud gasp. People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have disrupted sleep, and low blood oxygen levels. OSA has been associated with cardiovascular problems and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep Apnea has been associated with:

• Hypertension

• Stroke

• Heart Disease

• Gastric Reflux

• Sexual Dysfunction

• Depression

How is Sleep Apnea treated?

There are three effective options to treating sleep apnea- medical, surgical and dental. At family Dental Group, we have the specific education and experience necessary to effectively treat sleep apnea through the use of oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea- especially for those individuals who cannot tolerate CPAP or do not wish to undergo surgery. The appliance can either eliminate the need for surgery and other therapies or be utilized as an adjunct to CPAP ad/or surgery.

The advantages of oral appliance therapy include:

• Cost effectiveness

• Non-Invasive treatment

• Easy to wear

• Good patient acceptance

• Reversible

• Long-term compliance

Oral appliance therapy at Family Dental Group has several advantages over other forms of therapy.

Our oral appliances are comfortable and easy to wear and most people find that it only takes a few weeks to become acclimated to wearing an appliance. The cost of this therapy is very reasonable and the results are very satisfactory. Oral appliances are small, convenient and easy to carry when traveling and treatment with oral appliances is reversible and non-invasive.

We utilize several different oral appliances in our practice, and one is made specifically for each individual patient. All appliances are removable and most are effective in increasing the airway, reducing snoring and decreasing or eliminating apnea events. Appliances are also portable for traveling. They are made of acrylic materials that fit snugly and comfortable over the teeth. Most appliances are constructed by a dental laboratory using an exact model of the patient’s teeth in order to custom fit the appliance.

Oral appliance therapy can take from several weeks to several months to complete. Even after the initial phase of treatment is complete, your sleep dentist will continue to follow you to be sure that treatment remains successful and to evaluate the response of your teeth and jaws. If you suffer from sleep apnea and its bad effects, oral appliance therapy might be just the right thing for you. Call for a free consultation and come talk with us about receiving the quality care and successful treatment you rightfully deserve.

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