Sleep Apnea Treatments
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that interrupts a person’s breathing during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea conditions which will determine what sleep apnea treatment is needed. One is known as obstructive sleep apnea and the other is central sleep apnea.
Central sleep apnoea is when there is a problem in the communication between the brain and the body. This results in a reduced quality of breathing. Central sleep apnoea is seen as a medical condition and therefore, needs to be treated by a medical doctor.
Obstructive sleep apnea is when the flow of oxygen is obstructed. This can be corrected through treatment and dentistry can play an important role in sleep apnea treatment.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SLEEP APNEA
One of the obvious symptoms is snoring. However, while snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a regular snorer doesn’t necessarily have sleep apnea.
There are a number of other symptoms that show whether you have obstructive sleep apnea. If you carry excess weight and have a large neck circumference, over 43cm for a male, this would place you at a higher risk.
People with high blood pressure or other related medical conditions can also be predisposed to sleep apnea. Heavy drinkers are also vulnerable.
In addition, if your nose has restricted airways or has some congestion, or if you’re a heavy tooth grinder, then these can indicate that you have sleep apnea.
The good news is that your dentist can diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, even if you have none of these symptoms.
OTHER CONDITIONS TO LOOK OUT FOR
Some conditions to keep in mind is if you are suffering from fatigue or often feeling tiredness during the day. Also, if your concentration levels drop for no apparent reason, or if you have regular and sudden mood swings, then this can also indicate a sleep apnea treatment is needed.
A reduced sex drive together with an increased need to go to the bathroom during the night also suggest that you might require a sleep apnea treatment.
TYPES OF TREATMENTS FOR SLEEP APNEA
At Acacia Dental, if you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep we will create an overall treatment plan for you. However, in some cases, we might refer you to either a sleep expert or an ENT doctor to check for the specific causes of your breathing problems.
This way we will know what is the best way to proceed, and whether dental treatment will be required.
If dental treatment is needed, the primary form of dental treatment is to fit a medical intervention device. These are one of the more effective sleep apnea cures. It’s a nightguard that we design for the upper and lower teeth.
The nightguard can be worn while sleeping. We custom-make them from a soft material to fit your teeth, the nightguard relieves some of the pressure of grinding and clenching.
It allows the lower jaw to move forward while supporting the tongue in such a way that the airways open up and create more airflow.
If you suspect that you may have obstructive sleep apnea, then we offer a free dental consultation. During your free consultation, we will examine your mouth, assess the correct course of treatment and explain what the next steps are.
To book your consultation, call us on (02) 6281 2222 to book your treatment at our practice in Woden.
