What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which you stop or have halted breathing moments during your bedtime rest. At Savanna Market Dental, we take this condition seriously and can offer treatment options to help you stay healthy.  Untreated sleep apnea can lead to deprivation of oxygen lending itself to health problems such as heart attack, and stroke. Monitoring devices like a CPAP and visiting a sleep therapist can provide the relief you need.

How Does Sleep Apnea Happen?

When not enough air can flow from your mouth or nose into your lungs due to your throat muscles and tongue relaxing more than normal, this condition is referred to as sleep apnea. You are at higher risk of sleep apnea if you:

• Have a family history of this condition

• Are overweight

• Have high blood pressure
  
  

Note that anyone can get sleep apnea, so it is a good idea to be on watch for irregular breathing or waking up during sleep.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep Apnea at Your Dentist in NE Calgary

There are a few indicators that you may be at risk for sleep apnea. Do you experience any of the following?

• Snoring

• Gasping for air during sleep

• Waking up with dry mouth

• Excessively sleepy during the day

• Difficulty paying attention while awake

• Irritable

• Morning Headaches

• Insomnia
  
  

It is recommended to visit a dentist so they can do a complete check-up. If it is determined that you have sleep apnea, you can discuss the treatment options available to you.  

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three main types of sleep apnea.

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – The most common of all forms, it happens when your back throat muscles become more relaxed as you sleep and collapse. This stops you from breathing for some time.

2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) – When your brain is unable to send signals for you to breathe, this type of sleep apnea occurs. This rare form of the disease is typically found in older men.

3. Complex Sleep Apnea – Also known as Mixed Sleep Apnea or Treatment Emergent Central Sleep Apnea, this is a combination of OSA and CSA. Your airways are obstructed, and your brain does not send signals for you to breathe. It might start when being treated for OSA with a PAP or CPAP.
   
   

Your dentist in NE Calgary will discuss treatment options depending on the type of sleep apnea you have been diagnosed with.

Treatment Process

A primary solution for sleep apnea is an oral appliance though in some cases surgery may be required. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, or a Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine can be used during your sleeping hours to maintain a steady flow of oxygen to your lungs. We are happy to provide a consultation to determine which treatment is right for you.

• Step 1: Your sleep is sometimes monitored by a sleep physician to note your brain activity and physical movement.

• Step 2: Treatment is recommended.

• Step 3: Specific treatment is provided based on the results.
  
  

Better rest and improved oral health are the results of treatment.