Did you know Fuller Dental helps patients with Sleep Apnea?
In most mild to moderate cases, we can treat patients using oral appliance therapy. This is a successful treatment alternative that can replace the CPAP machine. Fuller Dental offers custom oral sleep devices for sleep apnea treatment in Burlington, NC.
An oral device is custom-made for you and fits like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer. It supports the jaw forward to help maintain an open upper airway. This will reduce the collapse of soft tissues at the back of the throat.
Research shows oral appliance therapy is a good treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Even though Fuller Dental provides sleep apnea treatment, we also treat any dental concerns you may have.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder. Common signs are loud snoring and episodes where the patient stops breathing during sleep. With sleep apnea, the soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse. This blocks the airway, causing a loud snore or a gasp that restarts breathing.
In many cases, the patient does not realize they are snoring and not breathing normally until their sleep partner points it out. They may also notice changes in their daily quality of life.
Signs & Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Although snoring is a common symptom, it does not always indicate a sleep disorder. Many patients with sleep disorders either do not snore or do not realize they do. There are several key signs of a sleep-related disorder, such as sleep apnea.
Loud Snoring
One of the most noticeable signs of sleep apnea is loud, persistent snoring. While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, sleep apnea often causes irregular snoring. The person may choke, gasp, or snort as they struggle to breathe. Family members or bed partners usually notice this symptom first.
Pauses in Breathing
People with sleep apnea often experience breathing pauses during sleep. These pauses may last a few seconds to a minute and can occur many times throughout the night. After a pause, the brain senses a lack of oxygen and prompts the person to wake up briefly to resume breathing. Although these awakenings are often too short to remember, they severely disrupt the sleep cycle.
Daytime Fatigue and Sleepiness
Even with a full night of sleep, individuals with sleep apnea may feel tired throughout the day. Frequent breathing interruptions prevent the body from entering the deep stages of sleep needed for restoration and energy. As a result, people with sleep apnea often struggle to stay awake during work, school, or even while driving.
Morning Headaches
Waking up with headaches is another common symptom of sleep apnea. These headaches typically occur because of reduced oxygen levels and poor blood flow during sleep. They are often dull and focused around the forehead or temples.
Dry Mouth or Sore Throat
Sleep apnea can cause dry mouth or a sore throat upon waking. Many people with sleep apnea breathe through their mouths at night, which dries out the throat and mouth, leading to discomfort in the morning.
Difficulty Concentrating
People with sleep apnea often experience trouble focusing or remembering things. Sleep deprivation affects brain function, making it harder to concentrate on tasks or retain information. This “brain fog” can impact daily life and work performance.
Mood Changes
Sleep apnea can also affect emotional health. Chronic fatigue and poor sleep quality may lead to irritability, anxiety, or depression. Many people with untreated sleep apnea report feeling frustrated or overwhelmed without knowing why.
Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
While anyone can develop sleep apnea, certain factors increase the likelihood of developing it. Understanding these risk factors can help you recognize if you or someone you know is at higher risk. If so, seeking medical attention is important.
Excess Weight
One of the most significant risk factors for sleep apnea is excess weight. Fat deposits around the neck and throat can narrow the airway, making it more likely to collapse during sleep. This type of sleep apnea, known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is particularly common in overweight or obese individuals. Even a small weight loss can sometimes reduce symptom severity.
Age
Age also plays a role in the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. While the condition can affect people of all ages, it becomes more common as they age. This is partly because muscles, including those in the throat, lose tone and flexibility with age. This increases the risk of airway obstruction during sleep.
Gender
Men are more likely to develop sleep apnea than women, especially in middle age. Hormonal differences may explain part of this. Estrogen and progesterone in women seem to provide some protection.
However, the risk for women increases after menopause. At this point, they become nearly as likely as men to experience sleep apnea.
Family History
Genetics can play a role in the risk of sleep apnea. If you have a close family member with the condition, you may be more likely to develop it yourself. This connection could come from inherited traits, like a narrower airway. It could also come from shared lifestyle factors, like weight or activity level.
Neck Circumference
The size of your neck can also indicate your risk of sleep apnea. Individuals with a larger neck circumference may have narrower airways, increasing the chance of obstruction during sleep. For men, a neck circumference of 17 inches or more, and for women, 16 inches or more, can be a warning sign.
Smoking
Smoking is another factor that increases the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. Smoking irritates and inflames the upper airway, making it more prone to swelling and obstruction. Smokers are three times more likely to have sleep apnea than nonsmokers. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk and improve overall health.
Nasal Congestion
Chronic nasal congestion can contribute to sleep apnea, whether from allergies or other causes. Blocked nasal passages make breathing more difficult, leading to mouth breathing and airway problems during sleep. Treating nasal congestion with medication or lifestyle changes may help lower the risk of sleep apnea.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, increase the risk of sleep apnea. These conditions often overlap with obesity. They may also result from the stress sleep apnea places on the body. Additionally, people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at higher risk.
Alcohol and Sedatives
Alcohol and sedatives relax the muscles in the throat, which can cause the airway to collapse during sleep. Consuming these substances before bedtime increases the risk of sleep apnea episodes. It can also worsen symptoms for those already diagnosed. Limiting alcohol intake and discussing medication options with a doctor may help.
Small Airway or Jaw Structure
Some people are born with physical features that make sleep apnea more likely. A naturally small airway, large tonsils, or a recessed jaw can narrow the space available for airflow. You can inherit these traits, or they can be a result of developmental factors.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Burlington
For mild to moderate sleep apnea, an oral appliance can be an effective treatment. CPAP is also a good option. The CPAP often leads to noncompliance among patients because it is uncomfortable and hard to maintain. Not treating your sleep apnea will increase your risk of other health concerns, such as heart attack and stroke.
Patients seem to tolerate oral sleep devices very well. They have a high compliance rate among patients, which leads to fewer symptoms and health risks. Custom-fit, your oral sleep device is like a mouth guard worn nightly while sleeping.
By repositioning the jaw to open the airway, the oral appliance reduces or stops breathing interruptions. This helps alleviate symptoms and related health problems. Convenient, comfortable, and portable, an oral appliance enables the wearer to speak and consume fluids when in place.
Dr. Peterson is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He stays informed on the latest research and treatments for sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. She treats patients with sleep apnea. Also, we work with patients who need help identifying possible sleep disorders affecting their health and well-being.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Sleep apnea is a breathing condition that you should take very seriously. Learn more by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.
What’s the life expectancy of someone with sleep apnea?
When patients develop sleep apnea over 50, their life expectancy is usually between eight and 18 years. Untreated sleep apnea can have a big impact on your quality of life. Exhaustion can make you more likely to get into car accidents, and the lack of sleep can lead to other health problems.
What’s the best sleeping position for sleep apnea?
Sleeping on your side with your back mostly straight is the best sleep position to reduce sleep apnea and snoring. Sleeping on your back is one of the worst positions. It causes the soft tissues in your mouth to collapse into your throat, worsening snoring.
Can I get disability for having sleep apnea?
No, sleep apnea is not considered a disability. You have to meet a certain standard with the Social Security Administration to get disability payments. Depending on how severe your sleep apnea is and its impact on your life, you may be eligible due to some of its symptoms.
Does sleep apnea happen every night?
It may or may not. It all depends on the individual. With moderate sleep apnea, you wake up anywhere within 15-29 times an hour.
With severe sleep apnea, you wake up over 30 times an hour. This is extremely detrimental to the quality of your sleep, especially if you experience it every night.
Is sleep apnea permanent?
There’s no complete cure for sleep apnea. However, treatment and lifestyle changes can lessen or eliminate its symptoms. CPAP, oral appliances, yoga, weight loss, and surgery are all things that can alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms. A combination of some of these things is usually the correct answer.
Can treating sleep apnea give me a longer life?
Treating sleep apnea comes with many life improvements. It reduces your risk of premature death by three times. It also cuts your risk of having a stroke in half and the chance of a heart attack by five times. Sleep apnea is extremely detrimental to all aspects of your life, so treatment is important.