Sleep apnea is far more than simply loud snoring. In fact, it can lead to serious and debilitating conditions later in life when left unmanaged. Considering that one in five adults have at least a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea (the most common form), it’s more important than ever to be mindful of your sleep quality. If you fear you may have sleep apnea, give Cornerstone Dental a call . Our dentists can create a custom-made oral appliance designed to target your symptoms directly, ensuring you can achieve a good night’s sleep again!
Multiple forms of sleep apnea exist, but the most common form by far is obstructive sleep apnea. Also known as OSA, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat or back of the mouth begin to relax and collapse. This leads to a blockage inside the airway, which in turn triggers snoring and events known as “apneas.” Apnea refers to a transient cessation of respiration, or a moment where you stop breathing, during sleep. While the body will force you awake to prevent you from suffocating, it makes it impossible to achieve the deep stages of sleep that are so vital to your long-term health.
Many people assume that sleep apnea is not a big deal, but this is because they likely don’t realize the long-term health effects that can develop. On top of depriving your body of the rest it needs daily, sleep apnea negatively impacts focus, memory and reaction time. This can be especially harmful if you drive to work regularly (or for a living) as it puts you at greater risk of traffic collisions. Additionally, sleep apnea can increase your risk for mood-related problems such as depression.
Multiple studies on sleep apnea have shown the condition to increase the risk of systemic diseases. For example, those with sleep apnea are generally at higher risk of developing heart disease or experiencing a cardiovascular event (i.e. heart attacks). Patients with sleep apnea are also about four times more at risk for stroke.
One of the reasons sleep apnea is underdiagnosed is because noticing the symptoms can be quite difficult if you sleep alone. Roughly 80% of sleep apnea cases are untreated. If you notice any of the symptoms below, do not hesitate to contact our office.
While many doctors will recommend continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) machines to manage sleep apnea symptoms, this treatment is not for everyone. Those with mild to moderate forms of sleep apnea may want to consider oral appliance devices instead, such as the ProSomnus device. This appliance is customized to fit inside your mouth exactly for the most optimal comfort when sleeping. When worn, it positions your jaw forward in order to keep the airway as open as possible. This dramatically reduces snoring and the number of apneas you experience a night.