What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that is surrounded by many misconceptions. Some people believe that sleep apnea is only snoring and making noise during the night, and that it makes you feel very tired, but there can also be much more serious health risks involved.

What sleep apnea really is, is when people stop breathing many times in the middle of the night, often in 10-30 second bursts. These small bursts often disturb sleep greatly, and cause fatigue or even high blood pressure and heart problems.

 

What Causes it?

Sleep apnea is caused in a few ways, either by your throat muscles relaxing and closing up which is called Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or by your brain not sending the correct signals to your throat muscles to stay open which is called Central sleep apnea (CSA). If you have both of these combined it is referred to as Complex sleep apnea.

 

How do You Treat it?

There are many treatment options a prosthodontist can offer you to help relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea. Many people can be fitted with a custom made mouth guard that re-adjusts your mouth and jaw to stop airway closure. There are also fitted breathing masks that regulate your breathing, these are often called Continuous positive airway pressure machines, or CPAP. These change air pressure around your mouth or nose to guarantee your breathing is not disturbed during the night.

 

Why see a Prosthodontist for Sleep Apnea?

Prosthodontists are dental specialists who have completed three additional years of specialized training, after four years of dental school, in an American Dental Association (ADA) accredited graduate education program. This training is what sets them apart when it comes to successfully treating sleep apnea.

Here at Madison Prosthodontics we’re all for a good night’s sleep. If you think you may be experiencing sleep apnea, come in for a consultation and see the difference a customized treatment plan can make in your life.