Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Snoring isn’t normal and it isn’t only affecting you!

sleep-apnea.jpgDid you know that about 90 million Americans suffer from some type of snoring activity during sleep? Half of these people are simple snorers, but the other half may have a more serious condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Persons with OSA will almost always be loud and frequent snorers, however snoring does not always indicate OSA and as a result the conditions are often incorrectly treated.

Studies have shown that the person with sleep apnea isn’t the only one waking up. If you are snoring, snorting, or gasping for breath while sleeping, your bed partner’s sleep is disturbed as well. Research shows that people who sleep next to someone who snores also experience physical and emotional consequences. Snoring and sleep apnea are unique in that they are conditions that can affect two people, although only one person has the problem.

How Snoring and Sleep Apnea Affects Bed Partners

  • Sleep deprivation
  • High levels of fatigue and daytime sleepiness
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Higher rate of aches and pains
  • Hearing loss, especially limited to the one ear most exposed to the snoring
  • Depression or poorer mental health
  • Irritability
  • Memory impairment
  • Increased risk for automobile accident

BED PARTNERS LOSE MORE THAN 45 MINUTES OF SLEEP PER NIGHT WHEN SLEEPING NEXT TO A SNORER

What is the difference between snoring and OSA?  Snoring is the result of tissues in the throat relaxing enough that they partially block the airway and vibrate, creating a sound. Things like weight and alcohol consumption can affect the amount of vibration. Persons with OSA can literally stop breathing for a few seconds to well over a minute. Both snoring and OSA can be caused or made worse by obesity, a large tongue or tonsils, aging, and the size of the head and neck.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP APNEA:

  • excessive daytime sleepiness
  • observed episodes of breathing cessation during sleep
  • awaking with dry mouth or sore throat
  • morning headaches
  • difficulty concentrating during the day
  • mood changes, such as depression or irritability
  • high blood pressure
  • inability to focus
  • loss of interest in sex
  • poor performance at work or school

MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OF SLEEP APNEA:

  • high blood pressure
  • heart disease
  • heart failure
  • diabetes
  • stroke
  • sudden death

SLEEP APNEA RISK FACTORS:

  • Obesity
  • 17” or greater neck size in males/ 16” or greater neck size in females
  • Enlarged tongue and/or small jaw
  • High blood pressure
  • Increasing age
  • Male gender
  • Family history
  • Alcohol or sedative use
  • Smoking

There are also signs that your dental team at Riverwalk Dentisty might observe that may indicate a sleep disorder breathing problem.  When we do our intraoral exam we observe more than just the teeth. 

ORAL SIGNS OF SLEEP APNEA:

  • When we cannot see the back of the throat when you open wide
  • Large tonsils
  • Large and/or scalloped tongue
  • Tooth wear on the chewing surfaces of the teeth or on the sides
  • Acid erosion on the teeth
  • Missing teeth from orthodontics
  • Deep bites
  • Long thin face
  • Clenching/grinding

Use the following 2 tests to screen yourself:

sleepiness-scale.jpgstop-bang.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

pulse-oximeter.jpg

 

 

 

 

What is a High Resolution Pulse Oximeter?

If we believe that you might be at risk of a sleep disorder breathing problem, we will encourage you to wear a high resolution pulse oximeter to bed for 2 nights. This device tracks your pulse and your oxygen saturation while you are sleeping. If you should get a partial or full blockage of your airway while you are sleeping your body will respond and your heart rate will typically rise while the amount of oxygen in your blood will fall. The number of times this occurs or the length of these episodes can be are tracked and recorded by this device. When you return the pulse oximeter to us we download the results and then go over them with you. If the results show that you are at risk for sleep disorder breathing, we will refer you to your physician or a sleep clinic for a more involved sleep study.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH OSA?

mandibular-device.jpgThe first line of defense should you be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea is typically continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP.  

For those patients who cannot wear or tolerate a CPAP, a mandibular advancement appliance can be fabricated. This appliance fits within the palm of your hand and is made by your dental team. 

In most cases, treatment completely relieves symptoms and problems from sleep apnea.