Sleep Apnea and Sleep Disorder Treatment
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common medical condition that can have serious health consequences if left untreated. Many people suffer from sleep apnea but are unaware of it. They may be aware of snoring, have periods of daytime sleepiness and difficulty with daily activities but don’t attribute this to a lack of quality sleep. People with apnea will have interrupted breathing while sleeping and will often actually stop breathing for a period of time, after which they will awake with a start and resume breathing but with an interruption of deep, restful sleep. They are frequently unaware of these lapses in sleep and breathing but sometimes a sleeping partner can detect this however.
What causes the interruption is a blockage in the throat, usually by the tongue which falls to the back of the throat and closes off the airway. This lack of deep sleep and also the fluctuations in oxygen levels in the bloodstream can lead to serious health problems, including high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, depression, mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, weight gain and excessive daytime sleepiness with the risk of work or traffic related accidents. There are several ways that sleep apnea can be treated and it’s important to have a sleep study done by a professional sleep center before a diagnosis and proposal for treatment can be made. The most common and usually the first recommended treatment is to use what’s called a CPAP machine which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. Essentially, it’s a mask attached to an air tank and is worn during sleep. The pressure from the air tank/mask holds the airway open and allows for continuous, unobstructed breathing. This device usually works very well. The problem with it for some people is that they have trouble wearing the mask apparatus, either it’s uncomfortable, the air tank may be noisy or it’s somewhat cumbersome. Also, it’s difficult to travel with. Many try this approach, only to be unable to tolerate this device and they give up on the treatment, putting themselves at risk for problems. |
So why is this being discussed on a dental website?
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Because for many people, there is another option that may be more tolerable and provide a treatment solution. There are dental devices that can be made to treat OSA. They are called mandibular advancement devices because when worn, they “advance” or move the mandible (lower jaw) forward which also pulls the tongue forward, thereby opening the posterior airway to allow for normal breathing. Many people find these to be more comfortable to wear than a CPAP. They are small and easy to take along while traveling so many patients can have the necessary treatment for their OSA without the frustration and challenges of a CPAP. There are numerous different designs for these devices, with advantages and disadvantages that relate to differences in people’s mouths and teeth, but they all do the same thing. Some specific ones are approved for Medicare patients and all the devices that Dr. Zlock prescribes are FDA approved for this purpose.
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If you are someone who is dealing with sleep apnea and is struggling to get used to a CPAP machine, you may consider a mandibular advancement device as an alternative or as a back-up solution, for traveling. Dr. Zlock would be happy to discuss sleep apnea treatment with you should you have any question about it.
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