Snoring Solutions

Have you been told you snore?  Do others have trouble sleeping while in the same room with you, because of your snoring?  Do you wake up feeling tired and feel sleepy all day long even after getting eight hours of sleep? Do you consistently wake up with a dry mouth and a sore throat? Does shortness of breath commonly wake you while sleeping?  If you have answered yes to any of these questions your solution may be as close as your nearest dentist.  YES, I said Dentist!!!  

It is an exciting time to be in sleep dentistry!  The new advances in sleep dentistry are allowing dentists who are trained in sleep dentistry to make a difference in the lives of many. Sleep dentistry is an area of dentistry that focuses on the management of sleep related breathing disorders, which includes snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). According to the Mayo Clinic sleep apnea is, " a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep." There are three different types of sleep apnea, but the most common type is OSA.

 The most common signs of OSA are:

•  Hypersomnia (excessive daytime sleepness) 
• Waking with a dry mouth and sore throat
•  Loud snoring
• Difficult to control high blood pressure
• Insomnia (difficulty staying asleep)
• Morning headaches
• Breathing cessation while sleeping

While anyone can develop sleep apnea these are the most common risk factors: 

• Being male - Males are twice as likely to be affected by OSA
• Overweight - This is a cyclical process, because sleep apnea can cause people to be overweight, and being overweight can make obstructive sleep apnea worse. However, thin people can also have sleep apnea.
•  Large neck size - A thick neck can narrow the airway. A neck circumference of greater than 17 inches for men and greater than 15 inches for women indicates a greater risk factor for sleep apnea.
• High blood pressure
• Chronic nasal congestion - OSA is twice as likely to occur in those with chronic nasal congestion
• Being Hispanic, Black, or Pacific Islander 
• Being over the age of 65
• Family History of Sleep Apnea
• Using alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers
• Smoking

Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder that if left untreated can lead to several chronic illnesses and even premature death.  It is estimated that untreated sleep apnea is more detrimental to a person's well-being than smoking. 

There are many ways to diagnosis and treat sleep apnea.  In the past, patients were required to sleep in a sleep clinic overnight hooked up to wires and monitors, while being observed by cameras and clinical practitioners, called polysomnography.  Thanks to advances in new technology, patients now have an at-home-sleep-study option, called oximetry.  Dental offices that specialize in sleep medicine and some physician offices have equipment that patients can take home and use while sleeping in the comfort of their home, and more importantly their beds. As you can imagine, sleeping in one's own bed and home could yield more accurate results, and may encourage more patients who are apprehensive about sleeping in a clinic to participate. Patients who choose the at-home-option simply take the data to their local physician's office to be read. If a diagnosis of OSA is made, patients now have a couple of options for treatment. It is important to note that the type of sleep study a patient chooses does not affect their treatment options.

Treatment options:

Behavior therapy - is often a first step to treating obstructive sleep apnea.  Patients are often encouraged to avoid alcohol, sleeping pills, and other sedatives that can relax the airway during sleep. 

Medications - certain medications can be prescribed that have been found to be helpful.  

CPAP device

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device -  CPAP devices work by opening the patients airway with a continuous flow of air.  Patients must sleep in a mask to do this. CPAP devices are very beneficial to people with obstructive sleep apnea, but they do come with negative aspects. CPAP devices can be difficult to travel with and sleep in, and they are noisy.

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) -  Dentists trained in sleep disorders can  work with your physician and make an oral appliance that can be used to hold the airway open. Many patients find this more convenient and economical than a CPAP device.  

Surgery - Surgery is an option for those suffering from OSA.  However, due to the invasive nature of surgery it is usually reserved for those who have not had any success with alleviating their sleep apnea with behavior therapy, medications, a CPAP device, or OAT. 

At Plaza Health Dentistry we are trained in sleep dentistry.  If you suspect that you or someone you love might have sleep apnea call our office at 314-843-0500 for more information, or visit our website at www.stlouis-cosmeticimplantdentist.com. Your health is very important to us and we look forward to talking with you.