Sleep apnea is a condition where you stop breathing while you sleep. This can be caused by a blockage in your airway (known as obstructive sleep apnea) or because your brain is not adequately controlling your breathing (known as central apnea). However, you must visit your dentist for a check-up and consultation, who can help you manage this difficulty.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
There are shreds of evidence that it may run in families. Overall, there are three primary forms of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
The most common form of sleep apnea occurs when your head and neck muscles relax during sleep, causing the surrounding tissue to press on your windpipe. This obstruction makes it difficult for air to pass through. - Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea results from complications in the brain that affect its ability to manage breathing, even during sleep. Usually, the brain sends signals to the muscles responsible for breathing, but in central sleep apnea, these signals do not occur, leading to interrupted breathing. - Mixed/Complex Sleep Apnea
This form includes a mixture of obstructive and central events.
These Symptoms Have Several Diagnoses Available To Detect Sleep Apnea. However, The Two Popular Amongst Orthodontics Are:
Overnight sleep study (polysomnogram)
Home sleep apnea testing.
– Overnight Sleep Study (Polysomnogram)
Sleep apnea diagnosis in orthodontics is frequently done through an overnight test, considered the most reliable method. You will spend the night in a sleep lab medical facility, where monitoring equipment keeps tabs on your heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels, brain waves, and other vital signs. The facility is designed to ensure comfort while accurately assessing your sleep patterns.
– Home sleep apnea testing.
This type of testing enables individuals to conduct a sleep study from the comfort of their homes. It is comparable to an overnight sleep study but does not include monitoring of brain waves. However, this test cannot diagnose central sleep apnea, and it is typically not recommended if healthcare providers suspect more severe sleep apnea or if the person has other sleep disorders or medical conditions. When a home study does not indicate sleep apnea, experts often suggest verifying this with an overnight sleep study.
Management And Treatment:
There are multiple ways to treat sleep apnea, depending on the type and severity of the condition. Although no cure exists, these treatments can prevent or lessen the frequency and intensity of apnea events. Incorporating these treatments into your daily or nightly routine can ultimately minimize or even eliminate the impact of sleep apnea on your life.
Possible Treatments Include:
– Conservative (nonmedical) treatments.
– Positive airway pressure and adaptive ventilation devices.
– Oral appliances (mouthpieces).
– Nerve stimulators.
Conservative Treatments:
Nonmedical treatments can improve obstructive sleep apnea, reducing apnea to the point of cessation, though they are not cures.
Positive Airway Pressure (Pap) And Adaptive Ventilation:
A technique called positive airway pressure involves using a specialized device to boost the air pressure in your airway while breathing in. This approach effectively treats obstructive, central, and mixed sleep apneas. It remains open by delivering pressurized air to your windpipe, allowing you to breathe normally. The device pumps air through a hose that connects to a mask you wear while sleeping. These masks come in different types and styles and can cover your nose, mouth, or both.
Oral Devices:
Do you experience obstructive sleep apnea? This condition occurs when the soft tissue around your mouth and jaw presses down on your windpipe, obstructing your breathing. Thankfully, mouthpiece devices can help alleviate this issue by holding your jaw and tongue in a position that relieves pressure on your windpipe. Dentists and sleep medicine specialists often collaborate to create customized mouthpieces for needy individuals.
Nerve Stimulators:
The hypoglossal nerve controls the movement of your tongue. Attaching a nerve stimulator to this nerve can stimulate and push the language forward during sleep. This prevents the tongue from relaxing and pressing against the windpipe, a common cause of obstructive sleep apnea. The nerve stimulator is connected to an electrode placed under your jaw and then implanted under your skin in your chest. You can turn the stimulator on before sleeping and off after waking up. This electrical current is powerful enough to prevent your tongue from relaxing excessively.
How To Manage Symptoms?
Sleep apnea is a severe condition that can significantly disrupt your daily life and even pose life-threatening risks. Therefore, attempting to diagnose or manage it by yourself is not advisable. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, it is recommended that you book an appointment with a dental specialist for proper assessment and treatment.
Summary:
Sleep apnea is a common condition that affects a person’s breathing during sleep. It causes the person to wake up briefly to take a breath, leading to interrupted sleep and feelings of fatigue. Untreated sleep apnea can result in severe or life-threatening complications, underscoring the importance of early detection and treatment. Thankfully, there are many effective treatment options available for this condition.
For Treatment, visit Adventure Orthodontics
Location: 17718 Kuykendahl Spring, Texas 77379
Call: (281) 353-5556