Everyone needs a good night’s sleep and your dentist may just be the person who can ensure you get one.
While sleep study professionals are usually needed to diagnose the exact problem causing poor sleep, your dentists is often the first professional to become aware of a potential problem. According to J. Michael Owen of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) that is because your dentist is usually in contact with his patients far more frequently than any of your other physicians.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Your dentist will often notice symptoms of sleep apnea, the most common cause of chronic loss of proper sleep, even when other do not.
Over 18 million Americans suffer from some form of sleep apnea. While snoring and morning tiredness are the most common symptoms, they may be indicators of far more serious health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea can be a serious, life-threatening disorder. This occurs when a person’s breathing stops for 10 seconds or longer during sleep.
How Can We Help?
A dentist often detects the less evident symptoms of sleep apnea during consultation with a patient, in conjunction with a regular oral health exam. Sleep apnea may be suspected when a patient complains of uncontrollable snoring, lethargy, dry mouth, or morning headaches.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for sleep apnea depend on the severity of the diagnosis. Treatment options may include:
- Behavioral changes such as losing weight, altering sleeping positions, or quitting smoking
- Wearing a dental appliance during sleep. These look similar to an athletic mouthguard and reposition the jaw and tongue to improve airflow.
- Severe cases of sleep apnea require more aggressive treatments which may include a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system—a device that delivers air through a small mask and applies constant pressure to keep the airway open— or in rare circumstances, surgery.
The professionals at Werninger Dentistry have undergone special training for the treatment of sleep apnea in its management through behavioral modification and dental appliances. Sleep apnea is a silent condition can often go undiagnosed for years. A good relationship with your dentist may be your best bet for catching a problem like this should it be present.
Things to Watch For
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Irritability
- Impaired emotional or mental functioning
- Excessive snoring, gasping or choking during sleep
- Insomnia
- Awakening with a sore throat or dry mouth