How Dentists Can Help Diagnose and Treat Sleep Apnea
Who is at risk for sleep apnea?
I get asked who is at risk for sleep apnea, and honestly, it's very difficult to tell. Sleep apnea doesn't have a typical type. It can affect people who are thin, people who are overweight, young, old—all types of people can be affected by sleep apnea.
How does sleep apnea affect oral health?
Sleep apnea can affect your oral health because it is directly related to clenching and grinding your teeth. We can have tooth wear, tooth cracking, dry mouth, sores on your gums—various problems can arise from having sleep apnea that manifest in your mouth.
How can your dentist help with sleep apnea?
Your dentist can help diagnose or treat sleep apnea in many different ways. I always ask all of my patients if they know if they have sleep apnea or if they snore. Sometimes those two can be correlated.
I can also tell if they clench or grind their teeth. We do a special screening for sleep apnea where I have you open and say "ah." I check out your airway, which is your throat and tonsils, and we proceed from there to see if you may or may not have sleep apnea.
What are the treatment options for sleep apnea?
Many patients have been diagnosed by their doctor for sleep apnea, and if I suspect you may have it, I will refer you to a doctor and work with them collaboratively.
The gold standard treatment is a CPAP machine. Some patients are not compliant with the CPAP machine, so there are also oral appliances like mouthpieces or mouthguards that can help treat sleep apnea. They are FDA-cleared and offer a variety of effective options.
Which appliances are recommended to help treat sleep apnea that are dental-related?
There are probably a hundred different ones on the market, but they all have a very similar design, which involves positioning the upper and lower jaw to open up the airway. My personal favorite to work with is called the EMA.
Who is a Candidate for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Patients with more mild sleep apnea symptoms can often benefit from the oral device that we make for them in the office. This device works by opening the airway, which makes it easier for you to breathe while you sleep. We will go over your health and medical history to ensure that treatment is right for you. If you have sleep apnea, it is important to consider treatment to improve your quality of life.
If you are interested in seeing if you're a candidate for an appliance for your sleep apnea, you can give us a call at (702) 710-8847. We'll do an evaluation, take a scan, and get it made for you right away.