Sleep apnea can be very detrimental to both your health and general well-being. It can raise blood pressure, increase the chances of developing type II diabetes, cause irritability and tiredness, headaches, and reduce daytime productivity.
Signs and risk factors include:
– Excessive weight
– Neck size
– Gender; men are more at risk than women
– Snoring; often due to a narrow, crooked, or obstructed airway
– Certain medications; opioids, sedatives
It’s important to note that most people who have sleep apnea are unaware of the fact that they have it. Affected people do not fully wake up, but instead are pulled out of a sleep state to a point of unconscious arousal constantly throughout a given night due to an interruption, and inconsistency in breathing.
While dentists can observe a posed risk for sleep apnea while doing an intra-oral exam, sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a physician, and often a sleep study is conducted. If you are diagnosed you with apnea, they will often recommend a CPAP machine because it proves to have the best results.
Some people may experience problems using a CPAP machine. In these cases, dentistry has an option for you. Our office can have an appliance made for you that pulls your lower jaw forward which opens the airway and thus helps you breath. It is similar to a mouthguard or nightguard, but serves a specific purpose.