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. Patients with sleep apnea experience a collapse of the soft tissues at the back of the throat, blocking the airway and forcing a loud snore or gasp to restart the airflow.

In many cases, the patient does not know they are snoring and not breathing normally until their sleep partner lets them know. 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 mean a patient has 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, snoring caused by sleep apnea often sounds more irregular. It may be punctuated by choking, gasping, or snorting sounds as the person struggles 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 so short that the person doesn’t remember them, 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 dryness in the 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 concentrating on tasks or retaining information harder. 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 experiencing this condition. Understanding these risk factors can help you recognize whether you or someone you know may be at higher risk and should seek medical attention.

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. Losing even a small amount of weight can sometimes reduce the severity of symptoms.

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, tend to lose tone and flexibility with age, increasing 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 disparity, as estrogen and progesterone in women seem to provide some protection against sleep apnea. However, the risk for women increases after menopause, making postmenopausal women nearly as likely as men to experience the condition.

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 result from inherited physical traits, such as a narrower airway or shared lifestyle factors like weight or activity level.

Neck Circumference

The size of your neck can also indicate sleep apnea risk. Individuals with a larger neck circumference may have narrower airways, increasing the chance of obstruction during sleep. For men, a neck circumference over 17 inches, and for women, over 16 inches, 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. When the nasal passages are blocked, breathing becomes 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, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, are associated with an increased risk of sleep apnea. These conditions often overlap with obesity, but they may also result from the stress that 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 and can 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. These traits can be inherited or the result of developmental factors.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Burlington

Although CPAP is still a good treatment option for sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy has proven effective for mild to moderate cases. 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.

Repositioning the jaw for natural airflow, the oral appliance reduces or eliminates the continual cessation of breathing, leading to symptoms and 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 and stays informed on the latest research and treatments for sleep apnea and other sleep-related disorders. She offers treatment for patients who have been diagnosed 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, as this encourages the soft tissues in your mouth to collapse into your throat, making snoring far worse.

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, cuts your risk of having a stroke in half, and the chances of experiencing a heart attack by five times. Sleep apnea is extremely detrimental to all aspects of your life, so treatment is important.