Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. The term sleep apnea is derived from the Greek etymology meaning “without breath”. Breathing pauses can last anywhere from several seconds to minutes, and happen as often as 30 times or more per hour. Ongoing disrupted breathing causes an imbalance between the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the bloodstream, as not enough carbon dioxide is exiting and not enough oxygen is entering the body.

Sensing this imbalance, the brain sends a message to the body, telling it to wake up to restart breathing the process. People with sleep apnea will partially awake as they struggle to breathe, and this is often accompanied by loud snoring or choking sensations.

There are two main types of this disorder; central sleep apnea which occurs when the brain fails to send important signals to the breathing muscles, and obstructive sleep apnea which occurs when air cannot flow through the nose or mouth even though the body is still trying to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea is far more prevalent and easily treatable by the dentist.

Initially, Dr. Rasi will want to conduct tests in order to investigate, diagnose, and pinpoint a suitable treatment for sleep apnea. Treatment options will depend largely on the exact diagnosis and the health of the patient. Treatment may include limiting habits that aggravate sleep apnea such as smoking, alcohol or caffeine consumption, and tranquilizer use.

Sleeping masks were traditionally used to keep the patient’s airways open while they slept, but nowadays there are some less intrusive options such as nasal strips, CPAP machines, or fitted oral appliances. Dental devices that gently tease the lower jaw forward are very effective in preventing the tongue from blocking the main air passage.  These dental devices are gentle, easy to wear, and often help patients avoid unwanted surgeries.

A more permanent solution is to have surgery that sections the lower jaw and helps pull the bone holding the tongue forward slightly. This surgery has an impressive success rate and is simple for the dentist or oral surgeon to perform. The dentist needs to formally make a diagnosis of each individual case before recommending the best course of action.

Snoring happens when air can't move freely through the nose and throat during sleep. Snoring can be caused by sinus or nasal congestion, but can also result from obstructed airways. Other causes of snoring are sleeping posture, large tonsils, excess weight around the neck, alcohol consumption, sleeping pills or muscle relaxers. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep disorders such as UARS (upper airway resistance syndrome) and OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) which cause sleep deprivation and lead to other health issues such as headaches, migraines, heartburn, acid-reflux, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Some at-home remedies to stop snoring include avoiding alcohol or sleeping pill consumption before bed, losing weight, exercising regularly, or changing your sleeping posture to sleep on your side instead of your back. If these solutions fail to stop your snoring, contact us to discuss treatment plans and possible sleep apnea diagnosis.

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP therapy consists of a machine with a fitted mask that provides air through the nose and mouth into the lungs. The consistent air pressure prevents the tissues in the back of the throat from collapsing, and allows the sleeping patient to take deep, uninterrupted breaths.

CPAP is a standard treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. However, in some cases the CPAP machine can cause extreme discomfort for patients. Dr. Rasi offers snoring treatment alternatives for those who are CPAP-intolerant. Contact us today to learn more.