An airway screening may be a new concept to some, but it is quickly becoming a standard part of your dentist’s oral exams. Along with the oral cancer screening and TMJ evaluation, the airway screening is designed to help catch a small problem before it turns into a much larger (and potentially deadly) issue.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing while you sleep and can have devastating effects on your quality of life. It’s formally diagnosed using a sleep study or polysomnogram, but the first steps to deciding whether you need a sleep study start at home and with an exam by a qualified professional. Many symptoms related to sleep apnea are misdiagnosed as separate medical issues. Some of the most common are:

Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA is a common condition affecting over 22 million people. Studies suggest that as many as 1 in 50 Americans are undiagnosed. The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are daytime fatigue, insomnia, snoring, awakening with a gasp or startling yourself awake, waking with dry mouth or a sore throat and headache. In some cases, you may not realize you stop breathing or snore loudly enough to wake your family. Sometimes, a partner or spouse can tell you if you exhibit some of these symptoms while you are asleep.

Snoring is one of the most common sleep problems, and most people wouldn’t think it’s important to tell their dentist that they snore. A snore on its own is relatively harmless, but it can also be a sign of something more serious, like sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is more than just a condition that makes you snore loudly or wake up tired. Left untreated, sleep apnea can cause severe medical problems and even death. It is a severe medical disorder and should be treated with the help of experts.

According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 73% of participants diagnosed with sleep apnea also exhibited symptoms of depression. After three months of dedicated sleep apnea treatment, that number dropped to 4%. This begs the question: Is it depression or sleep apnea?

Everyone experiences a headache occasionally, but for some, waking up with a headache is a chronic problem. Some people believe they have migraines, but they could, in fact, have sleep apnea. If you wake up with a headache often, you should see a sleep specialist to rule out sleep apnea as a cause. A common symptom of sleep apnea is waking up with headaches. In fact, it is estimated that as many as at least 50% of people who wake up with headaches might have sleep apnea. Other symptoms of sleep apnea may include daytime fatigue, insomnia, snoring, waking up with a gasp or startling yourself awake, waking with dry mouth, redness and other signs of irritation in your mouth and throat.

Many conditions are being linked to the sleep disorder called sleep apnea. But what is sleep apnea anyway? It is a general term that describes a condition where a person stops and starts breathing during sleep. Episodes of apnea can last just a few seconds and can happen once or twice up to 20 or even 30 times a night. It’s estimated that 22 million Americans have sleep apnea and most cases are undiagnosed.

On a daily basis, dentists handle everything from routine exams to delicate root canals and oral surgery. Did you know that more and more dentists also evaluate and treat sleep apnea? Many patients might be surprised to hear their dentist ask about their sleep patterns, but in fact, your dentist and his or her team are one of the best resources for sleep apnea management.

If you suspect you have sleep apnea, your dentist or doctor may suggest a polysomnogram or sleep study. General symptoms of sleep apnea may include daytime fatigue, insomnia, snoring, waking up with a gasp or startling yourself awake, waking with dry mouth, redness and other signs of irritation in your mouth and throat, and headache. If you regularly experience these symptoms, Click here to take our sleep survey, and tell your dentist or healthcare provider.