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Complete Health Dentist Treating Sleep Apnea
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SLEEP DENTISTRY IN PHOENIX, AZ
How a Complete Health Dentist Treats Sleep Apnea
Many individuals are unaware that oral health can affect other systemic conditions, such as sleep apnea. Unfortunately, this often includes traditional dentists, who tend to focus more on treating patients’ isolated dental conditions. In reality, appropriate sleep dentistry requires a strong understanding of the oral-health connection.
Sleep dentistry is available at Smile Dental Studio in Phoenix and the surrounding area. Choosing a total health dentist may be what you need to ensure your overall well-being.
Sleep Apnea and Airway Dentistry
Airway dentistry is an emerging branch of dentistry that focuses on a patient’s oral structure and how it affects breathing. Airway dentists search for signs of sleep-disordered breathing by searching for any abnormal oral development, such as tongue position, tooth wear, and extra tissues in the back of the throat. This form of dentistry can help diagnose and treat patients with upper airway resistance syndrome and various types of sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea.
Both upper airway resistance syndrome and obtrusive sleep apnea involve the relaxation of the throat’s soft tissue. This reduces the size of the airway, resulting in disturbed sleep and daytime impairment. Though airway obstruction symptoms depend on their exact cause, typical signs involve agitation, confusion, cyanosis (bluish-colored skin), difficulty breathing, gasping for air, panic, high-pitched breathing noises, and unconsciousness. Most sleep-disordered breathing is caused by resistance in the airway.
SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT IN PHOENIX, AZ
Treating Sleep Apnea
There are several treatment options available for sleep apnea, including oral appliances. No matter how serious the case, Smile Dental Studio can help patients determine the right treatment for them.
Impressions
To use oral appliances, patients must first have impressions taken of their teeth and return for a fitting at a later appointment.
Sleep Device
Depending on their situation, some patients may need to undergo another sleep test while wearing the device to ensure that it is in working order. Since these devices do not require any electricity, they are relatively unobtrusive and travel-friendly. However, they may require further office visits for any necessary adjustments.
CPAP Machines or Surgery
Patients who require more advanced treatment may want to consider continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines or surgery. As these treatments are more involved, they may require a referral to a sleep specialist.
AIRWAY DENTISTRY
Understanding Sleep Apnea
DENTAL TREATMENT FOR SLEEP APNEA IN ARIZONA
FAQ's About Sleep Apnea
How can sleep apnea impact systemic health?
Sleep apnea is one of the most well-known and most common sleep disorders affecting Americans today. Though its exact cause is still unknown, some experts argue that it should be classified as a systemic disease. This is due primarily to the undeniable presence of intense local and systemic inflammation and the various phenomena associated with the disorder (including modifications in the autonomic nervous system).
Furthermore, it is possible that obstructive sleep apnea may increase the risk of developing some features of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are already at an increased risk for vascular events, which have the highest morbidity and mortality rates of all associated complications. As such, it is safe to say that sleep apnea is often more serious than it first seems.What are the ideal candidates for airwaydentistry?
Virtually anybody can benefit from airway dentistry. If left untreated, airway-involved sleep disorders can have disastrous effects on a person’s oral health, feelings of restfulness, and overall well-being. An airway dentist can help look for signs of such disorders and, in mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, help treat them with recommendations for lifestyle changes, oral devices, and referrals to specialists when necessary.
Sleep apnea can affect patients of any age, including children. Furthermore, of all pediatric physicians, dentists are most likely to identify the abnormal tonsil growth that often causes obstructive sleep apnea. Accordingly, regular dental checkups can help catch and treat children’s sleep apnea before it has the chance to become problematic. As obstructive sleep apnea often comes with significant developmental concerns, early detection is critical.How common is sleep apnea?
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, sleep apnea affects over 20 million Americans. They also approximate that as much as 80% of moderate to severe cases of obtrusive sleep apnea are undiagnosed.
Can sleep apnea be cured?
Unfortunately, as of yet, there is no known cure for sleep apnea. However, Smile Dental Studio can help you minimize and manage its symptoms so that you can live a more comfortable life.
Is snoring always a sign of sleep apnea?
No. Snoring is very common and can occur in anyone. However, if your snoring is severe enough to wake you from your sleep, it may be a sign of sleep apnea. Snoring associated with sleep apnea is generally louder, deeper, and more consistent than "normal" snoring. Those with sleep apnea may also experience choking, gasps, or pauses in between snores.
Are there any risk factors associated with sleep apnea?
Approximately half of those affected by sleep apnea are overweight. Sleep apnea is more common in men than in women and in older persons than in younger persons. However, children with enlarged tonsils are also at risk.
Is sleep apnea hereditary?
At least one study has found that snoring runs in families. Though snoring is not a cause of sleep apnea, it is one of its key symptoms. Additionally, individuals may inherit narrow airways or be genetically predisposed to have excess tissues in the airway. As such, there is a hereditary component to sleep apnea.