What makes sleep apnea worse?

Although your genetics may make it more likely for you to get OSA, a number of things make OSA worse in some people.

Obesity: Being overweight is one of the largest risk factors for OSA. Although all family members may share the genetic risk of OSA, overweight people are much more likely to suffer from it.

Alcohol or Sedative UseBoth of these chemicals cause muscle relaxation resulting in the narrowing and collapse of the muscles around the throat at night.

SmokingSmokers are more ...

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What causes sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea runs in the families, which means the causes of OSA often begin with how we are built. Some of the physical reasons people suffer from OSA include a small upper airway or some other airway blockage during sleep. Such blockages may be caused by airway tissues, which are too large or relax too much when you sleep (e.g. tonsils or a soft palate) or your bone structure may change the shape of your throat (e.g. a recessed ...

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Are the treatments or the wearing of the appliance painful?

No. Most patients report that treatment is relatively painless.  The appliance is custom designed to your mouth and is readjusted often to ensure continued comfort. After the initial adjustment period, some patients tell us they forget they are even wearing the appliance.

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Can my family dentist make me a sleep apnea or snoring appliance?

While it is true that any dentist can make you an appliance, national and provincial dental governing bodies agree that the chances of successful treatment are directly related to the expertise of the providing dentist and suggest that dentists attempting this treatment should be appropriately trained. Before proceeding with treatment for this potentially serious medical condition, you should be comfortable with the training and experience of the provider.

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Is treating sleep apnea with dentistry as effective as CPAP?

While Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is considered the gold standard of care for severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), dental therapy has been recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) as first line of treatment for primary snoring, mild and moderate OSA, and severe OSA if CPAP is not an option. Studies have demonstrated that CPAP has almost 100% efficacy if worn by patients, but the degree of compliance is much lower than OAT. Therefore OAT compares favorably ...

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What is the success rate of treating sleep apnea with dentistry?

As with any medical treatment, there are no guarantees, but during initial consultation, after reviewing your diagnostics, and after clinical examination, your chances of successful treatment will be outlined to you so that you can make an informed decision.

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What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea affects the way you breathe when you’re sleeping. In untreated sleep apnea, breathing is briefly interrupted or becomes very shallow during sleep. These breathing pauses typically last between 10 to 20 seconds and can occur up to hundreds of times a night.

Untreated sleep apnea prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. When breathing is paused, you’re jolted out of your natural sleep rhythm. As a consequence, you spend more time in light sleep and less time in ...

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What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Major signs and symptoms of sleep apnea

  • Loud and chronic snoring
  • Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
  • Long pauses in breathing
  • Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spend in bed

 

Other common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

  • Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
  • Morning headaches
  • Restless or fitful sleep
  • Insomnia or nighttime awakenings
  • Going to the bathroom frequently during the night
  • Waking up feeling out of breath
  • Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
  • Moodiness, irritability, or depression
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