Sleep Apnea Snoring
Snoring has been called the music of the night, but for hassled spouses and families who have to hear it, it is nothing like music to their ears. Often the patient may not even realize that he snores, but the family will goad him to seek treatment for their own ability to sleep. While not always a hallmark of a greater issue, sleep apnea snoring could be the cause, and if it is, treatment is essential to prevent an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, driving accidents, and daytime drowsiness.
If a patient is only snoring, his physician might recommend an overnight sleep study, called a polysomnography. The results of the tests run during the study will tell if sleep apnea snoring is the problem. Unlike simple snoring, sleep apnea snoring disrupts breathing for 10 seconds or more sometimes up to 100 times a night. During each of these episodes, the patient briefly wakes up, although he may not remember it the following day. Constantly awakening at night can cause daytime fatigue and impaired function. Sleep apnea snoring is a serious condition that requires experienced treatment for the sake of the patient and his family.
Once diagnosed, the patient can begin to seek treatment. He will need to consult with his dentist who will discuss the treatment options, many of which he can offer. Often the root of sleep apnea snoring is some sort of obstruction of the airway, usually from the muscles at the back of the throat relaxing and allowing the soft tissues there to sag, when those tissues vibrate, sleep apnea snoring results. This is called obstructive sleep apnea. Depending on the physiology of the patient, the dentist might recommend several options. To alleviate sleep apnea snoring, the dentist might fit the patient with a sleep apnea oral appliance. This device is worn at night to keep the airway open and to prevent the tissue vibrations heard as sleep apnea snoring.
Some patients do not respond well to the sleep apnea oral appliance. In those cases, surgery might be an option. As with any surgery, the patient must find an experienced oral surgeon or orthodontist, depending on the procedure. Obstructive sleep apnea surgery options vary from the simple in-office radio frequency tissue ablation (RFTA), also known as somnoplasty, procedure to the more complex Maxillomandibular advancement that involves surgery to move the position of the upper and lower jaw. A dentist or oral surgeon is likely to try the simplest first, perhaps coupled with other treatments to ensure success with the least amount of invasiveness. An experienced oral surgeon will also increase the likelihood for success and the quickest relief of symptoms.
Sleep apnea snoring can lead to more serious conditions. Prompt addressing of this sleep disorder is critical to keep the increased risks of heart attack, stroke, and auto accidents to a minimum. The best treatment can be found from an experienced oral surgeon, dentist or orthodontist. His professional knowledge will guide the patient through the optimal course of action, with the least amount of invasiveness. By closely working with ones dentist, oral surgeon, or orthodontist, sleep apnea snoring can be cured or at the very least, reduced to a manageable condition. There is hope but only if help is sought promptly.
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