The side effects of sleep apnea are more known to people than the ailment itself. They include snoring, headaches, exhaustion, irritability, and depression. These symptoms do not occur due to insufficient sleep, but because of the recurrent breath cessations that occur during sleep. The most common forms of sleep apnea include:

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the soft tissues of the throat collapse as the muscles relax, blocking the air passages. When this occurs, a patient will wake up momentarily at different times throughout the night, and the oxygen levels of the body drop. The event is sometimes accompanied by choking. Blocking of the air passages may also occur from swollen glands and tonsils, jaw misalignment, excess alcohol use, or nasal problems such as a deviated septum or allergies.

A dentist will offer patients an easy, non-invasive method of diagnosing and treating sleep apnea. To make a diagnosis, patients may need to undergo an in-office pharyngometer test to determine the size and collapsibility of the air passages correctly. This test typically lasts for only two to five minutes.

If the test shows that a patient may have obstructive sleep apnea, they will need to undergo a take-home sleep evaluation, which studies their body’s natural state during sleep. The general dentist will review the results of the assessment with the patient, and if it proves that they have OSA, the next stage of treatment is the creation of a dental device to use while sleeping.

Some dentists may recommend a CPAP device to treat sleep apnea, which passes air through the oral and nasal ways to stop the soft tissues from collapsing. The CPAP device can be somewhat bulky and noisy, but it will sustain airflow while sleeping. Otherwise, the general dentist may design a custom-made oral device to open the airways. The oral device will help push the jaw forward to reposition the soft tissues in a way that they do not inhibit airflow. Once the airways are free, patients should have a good night’s rest with relaxed breathing.

Sleep apnea can be detrimental to your health and quality of life, but you can get prompt treatment from the general dentist. If you suspect you or a loved one is dealing with this condition, feel free to book an appointment.