The Role of Sleep Apnea Dentistry

If you or someone you know suffers from sleep apnea, it is important that you choose a qualified sleep apnea dentist parker to relieve your symptoms. If you think this condition only affects adults, you are wrong. Studies have shown that as many as 10% of adults suffer from the disorder. There are a variety of reasons why people develop sleep apnea, but the most common cause is obstructed airway passages.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is also known as obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, or central obstructed airways disease. The disorder occurs when the soft tissue in the throat and the upper airway are either partially blocked by soft tissue, fat, or a thin waxy substance. This causes a gradual loss of oxygen that makes breathing increasingly difficult. Dentistry can correct the problems caused by OSA by removing teeth or by using dental implants, mouth guards, and other procedures.

The primary goal of treatment for sleep apnea is to reduce snoring and prevent apneic events during the night. A dentist will perform a physical exam and take a complete history. They may perform an overnight study where they monitor the patient’s oxygen levels. A treatment plan will be developed based on the patient’s medical history, examination and results.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures are available for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. Oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth removal and temporomandibular joint repair, is performed routinely. Patients can also benefit from the jaw and head support devices, such as bite-holders and mandibular advancement splints. A treatment plan will be determined by the dentist and your treatment choices. Sometimes oral surgery and related procedures are covered by insurance companies as treatment for sleep apnea.

Dentists perform a variety of services in the field of sleep apnea. One of these is obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea causes pauses or shallow breathing during the sleep. These pauses and breathing disruptions often lead to loud snoring and sleep deprivation. This condition is considered a primary or secondary sleep disorder. Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea includes a variety of procedures that are applied at home and in the dental office.

Sleep apnea causes airway passages to relax and to collapse. This collapsing of airways occurs at night and can result in loud snoring. It can also cause daytime sleepiness, decreased performance and mood changes and tiredness. Patients that suffer from this condition have very low levels of arousal.

Sleep apnea is most common among middle-aged adults. It can also occur with patients who smoke cigarettes. Smokers tend to have more obstructive sleep apnea than nonsmokers do. Oral surgery, performed under general anesthetic, can open airway passages to relieve snoring.

The best procedure that dentists can provide in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is sleep dentistry. Dentists can provide in-office procedures that open airway passages and treat the problem. Patients are usually sedated with a local anesthetic. They then undergo a routine dental cleaning and dental x-rays before they are scheduled for one of the procedures that correct their sleep disorder.

Some of these procedures may include Extra-thinning or Extra-facial Subcision. In this procedure, the dental practitioner makes a small incision in the mouth, along the jawline or in the cheekbone. A thin titanium post is then placed on the bone abutting the soft tissue that obstructs the airway. Air is then gently passed through the titanium post to the affected area. Laser-assisted cutting or laser-assisted prophylaxis is another procedure that some dentists may perform.

Another procedure that dentists can provide for their patients is called in-office sedation. In this type of dental procedure, the dentists deliver an oral sedative to the patients through a nose tube or by using an inhaler. These sedatives relax the patients and they are put to sleep. This procedure enables the dentist to perform oral surgeries that require complete patient control. Sometimes, patients may experience mild to moderate pain and discomfort during this procedure.

Some patients may experience complications such as snoring during sleep. This is due to blockage of the airway when sleeping. A dental specialist can help patients resolve this issue by performing specific procedures to correct it. In addition, some sleep apnea patients experience damage to their teeth, specifically enamel, which causes deterioration of the teeth’s overall health. Dentists can address this concern by repairing damaged teeth during the course of sleep apnea treatment.

Sleep apnea affects over 20 million people worldwide. It is believed that, if left untreated, sleep apnea can result in more serious health problems. If you think you are suffering from sleep apnea, you should contact a sleep disorder clinic immediately. Your family doctor may be able to refer you to an excellent sleep apnea dentistry clinic where competent professionals can assist you with your sleep apnea problem.