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Can Dentistry Help Sleep Apnea and Snoring?

dental sleep appliance nanaimo dentistSleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that affects a great number of people.  According to the Lung Association of Canada, 26% of adults have a high risk of having or developing sleep apnea and 2 – 3% of children are likely to have sleep apnea.

Left untreated, sleep apnea can result in dangerous daytime sleepiness, and has been linked to high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke and recently has been implicated in connection with periodontal disease.

We’ve all heard of sleep apnea, which refers to pauses of 10 to 30 seconds in breathing during sleep which disturbs the sleep cycle, and fear this sleep disease that seems both hard to identify and treat.  The question is, can your dentist help you treat sleep apnea?

Using dental appliances to treat sleep apnea

Our dentists at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group are trained in using dental appliances to treat sleep apnea.  This scientifically proven solution makes sense if you understand how sleep apnea occurs.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by airway blockage when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat relaxes and collapses during sleep.  Dental appliances are simply designed to change the jaw and tongue position to reduce or prevent the blockage of the airway. Worn during sleep, dental apnea devices treat sleep apnea by holding the tongue and jaw in a forward position.

There are many different types of dental apnea appliances for sleep apnea available. We invite you to consult with your dentist at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group in regard to the ideal type of apnea sleep treatment for you.

Symptoms of sleep apnea

If you are suffering from some of the following symptoms and feel that sleep apnea may be the cause, please contact our Downtown Nanaimo Dental office to arrange a consultation.

The two main symptoms of sleep apnea to be aware of are: excessive daytime sleepiness that cannot be explained; and snoring with gaps or delays in breathing

Other frequent symptoms that may accompany the above include fatigue; depression; lack of concentration; high blood pressure; irritability; gasping or choking during sleep; morning headaches; memory loss; and impotence.

Can snoring also be treated with a dental appliance?

Like sleep apnea, snoring is caused by a reduced flow of air while sleeping.  The difference is that in the case of sleep apnea, breathing temporarily stops for a period of time. Read more about what causes snoring and modern dental solutions to snoring in an article written by Dr. Larry Hill, retired dentist from Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.

If snoring is an issue for you or your spouse or family member, a sleep specialist must first test to determine if the case involves sleep apnea. If the problem is determined to be snoring, a dental appliance can be used to keep the jaw forward and reduce the partially blocked airway that makes the sound of snoring.

How can I get started?

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group in Nanaimo, BC, is proud to offer dental appliances to treat sleep apnea and snoring and welcomes you to make an appointment for a consultation today.  We look forward to serving you soon!

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Don’t Let Dental Fear Hold You Back | Sedation Dentistry

Statistics show that a staggering 75% of us suffer from some form of dental fear, and 5 – 10% of us have a sedation dentistrystronger fear that prevents us from going to the dentist at all – even for hygiene visits!  Avoiding regular dental care, however, often leads to more serious dental problems and therefore more trips to the dental clinic.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry is a dental method used to help patients manage their fear and get the treatments they need to maintain good oral health.  Using safe doses of sedatives to help calm and relax you before and during a dental treatment, sedation dentistry allows you to temporarily control fear and anxiety.

One of the key benefits of sedation dentistry is that your dentist can complete more dental procedures in a single visit and eliminate the need for multiple visits to correct a problem.  A second key benefit is the amnesia effect it produces.  In essence, patients tend to remember little of a sedation appointment.

Through the use of sedation dentistry, our Nanaimo dentists at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group have helped hundreds of patients to get on track with regular hygiene and dental check-ups and achieve good oral health.

How is sedation dentistry administered?

There are two types of sedatives used for dental sedation at our Nanaimo dental clinic: oral sedatives, which provide deeper levels of sedation; and inhalation sedation, or “laughing gas”, which induces a state of well-being while the gas is inhaled.

After determining your medical history and the level of dental anxiety you suffer from, we will let you know the recommended sedation method for your appointment.  For patients with severe dental anxiety, we may also prescribe a sleep aid to be taken the evening leading up to the visit.

We provide a blanket and pillow to help you relax during the procedure and to ensure your safety, your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels will be monitored continuously.

What does sedation dentistry feel like?

Sedation dentistry quiets the mind and deeply relaxes your body.  The majority of sedation dental patients tend to sleep through the dental visit and not remember much of it although sedation patients remain conscious and will respond to the feedback of the dentist.

Are you a candidate for sedation dentistry?

If you are one of the 10% of people who suffer from a severe fear of the dentist, it’s possible that sedation dentistry could be the solution you’re looking for.  We invite you to book an appointment at our dental clinic to see if sedation dentistry is right for you.

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Treat Snoring and Sleep Apnea Today!

The term “sleep apnea” refers to pauses of 10 to 30 seconds in breathing during sleep which disturb the normal sleep cycle.  sleep apnea diagram nanaimo sleep dentalAccording to the Lung Association of Canada, 26% of adults have a high risk of having or developing sleep apnea and 2 – 3% of children are likely to have sleep apnea.

Symptoms and impact of sleep apnea

Excessive daytime sleepiness that cannot be explained and snoring with pauses in breathing are the main symptoms of sleep apnea, however there are other symptoms that can accompany them.

Sleep apnea can lead to a host of negative effects, including:

  • Irritability
  • Gasping or choking during sleep
  • High blood pressure
  • Memory loss
  • Impotence
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Lack of concentration
  • Morning headaches

Medical treatment for sleep apnea

CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, is the medical treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP delivers a constant flow of air to the patient through tubing and a mask to the airway. The pressure of the airflow prevents the collapse of the airway and eliminates the sleep apnea events.

One of the downsides of CPAP is the discomfort of wearing a mask and tubing while sleeping. Also, CPAP is not a cure for sleep apnea, it only works as long as it is used.

If diagnosed with severe sleep apnea by a medical doctor, the patient is required to try the CPAP device for at least one month because it is considered the best treatment option.

After one month of using CPAP, or in cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea, the patient can request an alternate treatment for sleep apnea, such as a dental sleep apnea appliance.

Dental appliances and devices to treat sleep apnea

Dental sleep apnea appliances, also known as oral appliances, may be suggested by a patient’s doctor to treat mild or moderate sleep apnea. Dental apnea devices to treat sleep apnea are worn at night and work by holding the tongue and jaw in a forward position.

There are many different types of dental sleep apnea appliances for sleep apnea available. If a dental apnea device or appliance is recommended by your doctor, it’s best to consult with your dentist at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group in regard to the ideal type of apnea sleep treatment.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group in Nanaimo, BC, is proud to offer dental appliances and apnea appliances as an alternative to CPAP to treat sleep apnea as well as snoring and welcomes you to make an appointment for a consultation.

 

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