Sleep Apnea and Dental Treatment
Sleep apnea does more than just disrupt a good night’s sleep. When left untreated, sleep apnea can actually cause you to feel exhausted and fatigued throughout the day. If you would like to find a way to stop sleep apnea, there are actually treatments that are available at your local dental office. These treatments will be able to ensure you have a good night’s sleep at every night. The team at our San Diego cosmetic dentistry center would like to look at these options right now.
About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is the name of a sleep disorder that involves blocked airways or breathing passages during the night. When the air passages get blocked during sleep, there is a stoppage in breathing. This is known as an apnea, and they can last between a few seconds to a few minutes. These apneas cause people to wake up during sleep until breathing is restored. In serious cases of sleep apnea, people have been known to experience up to 30 attacks in an hour.
By speaking with our La Jolla cosmetic and restorative dentists or your doctor, you’ll be able to learn about all of your options for treatment.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
There are three different kinds of sleep apnea:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – The most common kind of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea involves a physical blockage of the breathing passages during sleep.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) – Central sleep apnea refers to sleep apnea that is caused by imbalances in the respiratory centers of the brain.
Complex/Mixed Sleep Apnea – Mixed sleep apnea refers to a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.
Why Sleep Apnea is a Serious Health Problem
Sleep apnea disallows people from getting a good night’s sleep. This means fatigue in the morning when waking up as well as all the problems associated with sleep deprivation, including:
Poor memory
Delayed reaction times
Physical weakness
Drowsiness during the day
Vision problems
In addition to the above, studies have shown that not getting a good night’s sleep can increase the chances of becoming overweight or obese, which each result in a number of serious health problems. Thankfully there are a few minimally invasive dental care treatment options to consider for treating sleep apnea.
Dental Care Treatments for Sleep Apnea
While there are a number of medical surgeries and other therapies for sleep apnea, there are some comprehensive dental care treatments that help open up the airways and treat obstructive sleep apnea.
One option involves the use of mandibular advancement splint. This is a custom-crafted device that helps position the lower jaw in such a way that the breathing passages remain open. In addition, there is a minimally invasive procedure that that helps keep the soft palate elevated, which helps reduce the chance of breathing obstructions.
Other Dental Care Options to Keep in Mind
In addition to treating sleep apnea, there are plenty of other treatments that we offer as part of comprehensive general care, including San Diego composite fillings and treatments for gum disease. We would be more than happy to discuss all of these in more detail during your visit.
For more information about all of your options for effective dental care that emphasizes total wellness, be sure to contact our La Jolla cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. The entire team looks forward to meeting you in person and discussing all of these matters in full detail.
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