Do you have sleep apnea? If you think you might be experiencing this condition but haven’t been formally diagnosed, it’s vital that you go to a sleep doctor immediately to get a sleep study.
If you have sleep apnea, your body stops breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time, many times during the night. This causes oxygen deprivation to your brain, heart, and other organs. It can lead to headaches, fatigue, mood swings, involuntary sleep while driving, and even conditions like stroke.
After being diagnosed with sleep apnea, it’s possible to open your airway and experience restful sleep again very quickly. Through medical and dental devices—such as the CPAP machine or an oral night guard—you can stop snoring and breathe continuously all night long, giving your brain and body all the oxygen you’ve been missing.
The Traditional Option: The CPAP Machine
The CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) was first popularized in the 1980s. It has helped many patients with obstructive sleep apnea by forcing air past whatever had been obstructing it. This gets vital oxygen through the throat and into the lungs continually, not allowing the body to stop breathing as it had been previously.
This is how a CPAP works:
- A mask is placed over just the nose or the mouth and nose (depending on the type of CPAP used). It is kept in place by straps around the head.
- A device is set beside the bed, containing a motor that will pressurize and move the air. This device makes a small amount of noise, but is manageable for most patients.
- A tube carries the pressurized air between the device and the mask. This pressurized air flows through the nose and mouth and carries oxygen to the patient.
If you use a CPAP, you will need to wear the mask all night, every night. This will often force you to sleep on your back, but with certain adjustments, you may be able to sleep on your side. When you are traveling, you’ll need to carry a CPAP machine to your destination.
A CPAP is effective at lowering blood pressure, improving sleep (for some patients), eliminating snoring, and improving quality of life during the day. This can result in you staying awake while you’re driving, concentrating better at work, and feeling more content in general.
Many who have tried a CPAP have also given up on using them. Some people don’t like having a new sound next to their bed while trying to sleep. They also dislike the feeling of the mask on their face and/or the tubes. CPAPS can also cause or trigger:
- A feeling of claustrophobia.
- Congestion, runny nose, nose bleeds, or inflamed sinuses.
- Irritation or sores on the bridge of the nose.
- Bloating of the stomach.
- Chest pain.
- Sore or dry mouth.
Some of these challenges can be alleviated by using a cushion under the face mask, a CPAP that also humidifies the air, or a nasal spray.
Oral and Dental Devices
How can a small appliance placed in your mouth improve your airway? Whereas the CPAP solves the problem by forcing more air past an obstruction, an oral device works by removing the obstruction altogether.
If Dr. Hollinger sees that your sleep apnea is not too severe, an appliance worn over your teeth can actually move your jaw or tongue enough to more fully open your airway. This prevents tissues from pressing against each other and vibrating (which causes snoring).
If you already use a CPAP, an oral device could even make your CPAP easier to use. With your airway more open, your CPAP could run at a lower setting, or you may be able to stop using it altogether.
Mandibular Advancement Appliance
These appliances are night guards that fit over your teeth. You can place them over your upper and lower teeth very easily before bed.
Your dentist will customize the night guard so that they conform comfortably to your specific teeth. Very importantly, yours will be designed to move your lower jaw in a specific way to open your airway (“Mandibular advancement” means that this device moves your lower jaw).
Some of our patients immediately breathe far more easily when they start wearing their appliance. As we age, changes in our tissues can cause a slight blockage in the throat that was not there before. A small change in position is all that is needed in these cases, to move the blockage and improve breathing.
Contact Dr. Hollinger for Better Sleep
Central Connecticut Orofacial Pain & Sleep Medicine is known for helping relieve pain and increase joy in life. Through oral appliances and NightLase treatment, we can help you breathe easier at night, stop snoring, and enjoy days full of more energy and focus. Call today for an appointment, and take your life back from sleep apnea.