Breathing

Sleep Apnea treatment improves the overall quality of your sleep and reduce snoring with dental treatments that specifically target night time breathing difficulties.

• Snoring (most prevalent)

• Snoring with intermittent sleep apnea

• Obstructive sleep apnea

• Central sleep apnea (least common)

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the airway is fully blocked by soft tissues in the nose, mouth, and upper neck. Unlike snoring, this condition involves a complete cessation of breathing for at least 10 seconds, making it a more serious sleep-related breathing disorder.

It is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe based on the frequency of apneic episodes per hour—indicating how often breathing stops during sleep. In the UK, it affects more than 4% of males and 2% of females.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

• Night time symptoms: Snoring, snorting, gasping for air, absence of breathing, frequent nocturnal urination, involuntary limb movements.

• Daytime symptoms: Fatigue upon waking, excessive daytime sleepiness, especially during work or while driving, low energy levels, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, morning headaches, and feelings of depression.

Common questions regarding snoring and Sleep Apnea

How is obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed?

• Obstructive sleep apnea is officially diagnosed by specialists at a sleep clinic. While dentists can address dental issues and provide various treatments, they lack the capability to diagnose sleep apnea. However, they can identify signs of obstructive sleep apnea due to their extensive examination of oral health.

Is sleep apnea connected to teeth grinding?

• The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and teeth grinding is not fully understood, but numerous studies suggest a frequent co-occurrence of these problems. If you exhibit teeth grinding during sleep, reinforcing them with dental crowns may be necessary.