Sleep Apnea
There are two major forms of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea (CSA), and obstructive sleep apnea, (OSA). CSA originates in the brain and is characterized by neurological failure to send the signal to the throat muscles to breath. This is a more rare form of the disorder that occurs primarily in children whose brains have not yet fully developed. In adults, it can be triggered by head injuries, neuromuscular disorders, and sometimes by medications prescribed for other conditions.
The more common form of the disorder is Obstructive sleep apnea. OSA is caused by throat muscles collapsing onto themselves due to excessive relaxation, obesity, or side effects caused by smoking or drinking too much. OSA affects 17% of the male and female middle-aged populations, but few of these people ever realize they have the disorder because it is so difficult to self-diagnose. Persons who suffer from any of the above symptoms should call their doctor and ask to be referred to a diagnostic sleep center. Here, they can stay the night under close observation and be diagnosed properly by trained experts who know how to spot the disorder and calculate its level of severity.
If the person does indeed have sleep apnea, the doctor will then prescribe a treatment plan. The most common method of treatment is the use of a CPAP machine that helps a patient breathe during the night. The machine pushes compressed air through a mask that fits over the face, putting just enough force on the windpipe to keep it open. The CPAP machine must be set to a precise level of compression to get the right amount of air into the passageway. While this can easily be done by the doctor, many people find the mask too uncomfortable to wear. This has resulted in a very high level of non-compliance with the treatment, even though it has been proven to be highly effective. Some people just let the machine sit idle beside their bed. Others wind up storing it in the closet to gather dust and go back to snoring all night and being tired all day long. This is not a good thing to do, because it can lead to respiratory and craniological problems later in life if left untreated.
There is hope for these people, however. New dental technology has emerged that has provided an alternative to CPAP therapy in the form of a sleep apnea dental appliance. This is basically a special mouth guard made custom to the upper and lower jaws of the individual. It keeps the lower jaw extended just enough to prevent the trachea from closing in on itself, and allows normal breathing to occur without the aid of a machine.
More information on sleep apnea is available through the following links:
Sleep Apnea
Orthognathic Surgery
Polysomnography
Upper Airway Resistance
Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance
The Medical Center Dental Group is happy to announce the inclusion of the SomnoDent MAS in our repertoire of sleep apnea treatment options. We typically make 3-4 of these per months for people who come to us frustrated with CPAP therapy. If you are currently neglecting your treatment plan but know that you should be doing something proactive about your sleep apnea, call us for a fitting and let us get you started on the road to relief and recovery.
Labels: obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, sleep disorders, SomnoDent MAS
posted by Dental Expert at
12:55 AM
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