Adult Sleep Related Breathing Disorders
Snoring
Snoring is the sound of obstructed breathing during sleep. While snoring can be harmless, 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 are the consequences of snoring?
strain on relationships
sleep deprivation leading to irritability, illness, poor performance
deprivation of oxygen to the brain
increased risk of heart attack and stroke
How can we treat snoring?
avoid sleeping on your back
weight loss and exercise
avoid alochol before bed
nasal dilators
mandibular advancement appliances
arch expansion appliances
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the soft tissue in a person's throat repeatedly collapses and blocks the airway during sleep. This causes a pause in breathing lasting typically 10 to 30 seconds. These pauses can happen hundreds of times a night, leading to abrupt reductions in blood oxygen levels.
What are the consequences of OSA?
excessive daytime sleepiness
heart failure/ heart attack
irregular heart beat
stroke
high blood pressure
diabetes
obesity
learning and memory problems
sexual dysfunction
depression
How can we treat OSA?
CPAP
Sleep position training
Behavior modification
Surgical interventions
Oral Appliance Therapy
Growth of the Jaws and Airway
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral Appliance Therapy is a customized “mouthguard” that helps to hold the lower jaw and tongue in a forward position. This increases the size of the airway and reduces airway collapse while sleeping.
Oral appliance therapy can be used as a first line treatment for mild-moderate OSA or in the CPAP intolerant OSA patient. In consultation with your sleep physician, we will determine if you are a candidate for Oral Appliance therapy.
Airway Expansion.
Treat the underlying cause of mild-moderate OSA and snoring.
An underdeveloped upper jaw can lead to obvious problems (crowded teeth, narrow arches, periodontal problems) and not so obvious problems (poor nasal breathing, limited tongue space, snoring, sleep apnea). By expanding the jaws to the size that nature intended, we can help to treat the underlying causes of sleep related breathing disorders.
This is accomplished through use of removable retainers for expansion and clear aligners. Patients who successfully complete the 12-24 month treatment may no longer require CPAP or Mandibular Advancement, treatments that are generally required for life.
What to expect at your first visit
The first dental appointment will involve a discussion of the problem, the advantages and limitations of oral appliance therapy in your case and the extent to which insurance will cover the procedures. We will discuss the risks/benefits to treating your OSA/snoring with mandibular advancement therapy or airway expansion.
We will also complete an oral examination to determine if your teeth, gums and bone are healthy enough to support an oral appliance. We will take pictures, x-rays, impressions and evaluate the function of the muscles of the mouth and face.
If you choose to proceed with the therapy, a simple in-home baseline sleep study may be done initially. This will be compared to a second study done once the appliance is titrated to be effective.
A dentist CANNOT diagnose sleep apnea. We can help connect you with a certified sleep physician who can administer a home or in office sleep test and offer you a medical diagnosis. You can learn more about how we screen for sleep apnea and help get you a diagnosis here. Once diagnosed, we will work collaboratively with your sleep physician to find the best treatment for you.