Unlike snoring which results in partial blockage, sleep apnea is caused by the complete blockage of the airway during sleep resulting in no air reaching the lungs for ten to ninety seconds.
The result is:
– Tiredness and fatigue
– Irritability
– Drowsiness
Medical complications may be linked to sleep apnea due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood, this includes:
– Heart Disease
– High Blood Pressure
– Hypertension
– Diabetes
– Alzheimer’s Disease
If you or your spouse experience difficulty sleeping or think sleep apnea could be a contributing cause, you can talk to your dentist along with your primary care physician – and be sure to educate yourself.
Maybe sleep problems persist, maybe not – but one thing is for sure, sleep apnea is certainly a growing area of treatment amongst the dental health community. Dentists are treating sleep apnea cases, and due to public demand it’s now possible to have your neighborhood dentist prescribe a range of treatment plans, depending upon the severity and initial diagnosis in conjunction with your primary care physician. Mouthpieces, oral appliances, CPAP, even Oral Systemic Balance Therapy, are all ways to treat common sleep apnea complications.
