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.
The National Sleep Foundation estimates that as many as 22 million Americans have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing during sleep. These episodes of apnea can last from just a few seconds up to a couple of minutes and can happen as often as 30 times per night. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Click here learn more about Sleep Apnea classifications from the American Sleep Apnea Association.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
is the most common and occurs when the soft tissue of the throat muscles, tongue, tonsils, or the soft palate relax and cover the airway, preventing breathing.
Central Sleep Apnea
is a neurological disorder where the brain “forgets” to tell the lungs to breathe. People with CSA usually have other serious illnesses including Parkinson’s disease, brain injuries or trauma to the brainstem, chronic heart failure, and kidney failure.
Complex Sleep Apnea
is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea and isn’t usually discovered until treatment for obstructive sleep apnea isn’t successful. Your dentist understands the delicate relationship between the teeth, cheeks, lips, mouth, and tongue and can quickly evaluate any visual signs that you might have sleep apnea. One of the first signs of sleep apnea noticed by dentists is bruxism or teeth grinding. Scientists think when a person has an apneic episode, the body forces the jaw to clench as a message to wake up and continue breathing or to help prop open the airway. Sometimes a sudden rise in cavities can be a red flag for your dentist or hygienist because consistent grinding can cause fractures allowing bacteria to get in and decay teeth. Other clues you may have sleep apnea are a small jaw or a tongue that has scalloped edges. A scalloped tongue usually gets it marks from being pushed against the teeth. Both of these conditions make it easier for soft tissue to block airways while you sleep. You may not even realize that your dentist checks for these clues and more during your regular exams, but they are in the best position to notice and monitor any changes in your mouth and oral health. Many dentists go through specialized training to look for and treat sleep apnea with non-surgical methods and behavioral modification, but a physician trained in sleep medicine must make a proper diagnosis. If your dentist thinks you have sleep apnea, he or she will often recommend a sleep study, and then, depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, you may be referred back to your dentist for treatment. If you have any of these symptoms or think you have sleep apnea, talk to your dentist and take our sleep survey here for more information. At Go To Sleep Center, our sole specialty and focus on the treatment of snoring and sleep apnea with a dental device. Dr. Stacey Layman and her team will work closely with you, to ensure you are educated on caring for your oral appliance to get the best quality treatment for the life cycle of the dental device.
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