Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is something that should be taken seriously. Especially when it may be associated with other health issues. A dentist can be helpful when it comes to fulfilling your needs to treat it. Our team at Robert F. Walker Jr. DDS understands that sleep apnea can be something that you can struggle with. If you are unsure if you have sleep apnea, it is important to make an appointment with a physician before visiting a dentist regarding treatment. If you do not know what sleep apnea is, we will explain what it is, how it is diagnosed, and how it can be treated. What Is Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing may be abnormal during your sleep. For example, you may be breathing properly while you sleep but stop breathing for a period of time. This is considered to be dangerous as it may cut off the oxygen supply to the brain. Thus, it is a condition that can be fatal if untreated. The temporary lapses of breathing can also cause poor sleep quality, among other things. How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed based on a sleep test. This test can be at home or at a sleep clinic. If the results appear to have signs of sleep apnea, you will be referred to a sleep specialist so you can receive a treatment plan. How To Treat Sleep ApneaOne of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. This machine is worn when you sleep to help with the condition. The CPAP machine provides you with enough air pressure to keep your air passageways open and help you breathe. This will improve your sleep quality and help keep you breathing in the event if you have stopped for a moment. How A Dentist Treats Sleep ApneaDentists usually focus on areas of sleep medicine including reducing the instances of snoring. A dentist may provide you with one of the two appliances available to you. First, you could wear a mandibular advancement device (MAD). MADs will be applied to the lower jaw as it will reduce the instances of snoring. There are specially trained dentists that will help fit MADs for your treatment. Another appliance that a dentist may provide for you is a tongue-retaining mouthpiece. This will prevent your tongue from falling back and blocking your airway while you sleep. Sleep Apnea TreatmentHow can Dr. Walker help you?Sleep apnea exhibits itself by compromising the airway, which can be life-threatening. We screen every patient and prescribe a 2-3 night home sleep test for our patients when indicated. Dr. Walker and a board-certified sleep physician read the results and treatment modalities are discussed. The two most prescribed treatments are CPAP and a mandibular advancement device (MAD). Once the severity of sleep apnea is determined, Dr. Walker prescribes the Micro2 mandibular advancement device. It is the only one made in the physiologic position (harmony of the teeth, joints, and muscles) for ultimate comfort. Since 4 out of 5 patients are CPAP intolerant, the Micro2 is the best choice and easy to travel with. OSA is serious and life-threatening. If you may have sleep apnea let us helpIf you have yet to be diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may need to have it diagnosed by a doctor. Once there is confirmation, you may want to follow through with a treatment method. You may also need to visit a dentist in order to find the best treatment for you. Our team at Robert F. Walker Jr. DDS will be here to help with any sleep apnea questions or concerns you may have. To set up an appointment, contact us at (602) 782-4856. |
