There are three types of sleep apnea: Obstructive, Central, and Mixed. Obstructive apnea is the most common. It is when the soft tissue collapses in the back of the throat. It affects more than 20 million Americans, just as common as Type II Diabetes. It can affect people at any age, even children. The most common symptom is loud snoring, but also includes daytime sleepiness and headaches. The only way to correctly diagnose sleep apnea is a sleep study in a controlled setting, or more recently, a home sleep study. Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated with the right awareness and medical intervention.
As dental professionals we assess the oral mucosa, dentition and your overall health. We offer nighttime mandibular advancement devices, which are appliances that push the lower jaw and/or tongue forward to open the airway. If you suspect sleep apnea, or snore so loud your significant other elbows you several times a night, please don’t hesitate to ask about options at your next visit.