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Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Snoring Is Very Common
Dr. Neal discusses sleep apnea and oral appliance alternative to CPCP video
It's estimated that approximately 30% to 50% of the US population snore at one time or another, some significantly. Snoring can it difficult for others to sleep. Loud snoring can cause several problems, including marital discord, sleep disturbances and waking episodes sometimes caused by one's own snoring.
Snoring does not equal OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). Snoring is sometimes only a social inconvenience. Still, even a social inconvenience can require treatment, and there are several options available to chronic snorers.
Sleep Apnea or OSA (short for Obstructive Sleep Apnea)
Sleep apnea can kill you
Sleep apnea is a common and serious condition
Obesity in the United states is contributing to a rapid increase in Sleep Apnea.
One in five adults has at least mild sleep apnea and one in 15 adults has at least moderate sleep apnea. OSA also affects 1% to 3% of children. These figures are on the rise. During sleep, the upper airway can be obstructed by excess tissue, large tonsils and/or a large tongue. Also contributing to the problem may be the airway muscles, which relax and collapse during sleep, nasal passages, and the position of the jaw.
The cessation of breathing, or "apnea," brought about by these factors initiates impulses from the brain to awaken the person just enough to restart the breathing process. This cycle repeats itself many times during the night and may result in sleep deprivation and a number of health-related problems. Sleep apnea is generally defined as the presence of more than 30 apneas during a seven hour sleep. In severe cases, periods of not breathing may last for as long as 60 to 90 seconds and may recur up to 500 times a night.
Snorers may have Sleep Apnea
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Those who have OSA are often unaware of their condition and think they sleep well. The symptoms that usually cause these individuals to seek help are daytime drowsiness or complaints of snoring and breathing cessations observed by a bed partner. Other symptoms may include:
•Snoring with pauses in breathing (apnea)
•Excessive daytime drowsiness
•Gasping or choking during sleep
•Restless sleep
•Problem with mental function
•Poor judgment/can't focus
•Memory loss
•Quick to anger
•High blood pressure
•Nighttime chest pain
•Depression
•Problem with excess weight
•Large neck (>17" around in men, >16" around in women)
•Airway crowding
•Morning headaches
•Reduced libido
•Frequent trips to the bathroom at night
click here to take the Sleep Apnea Screening test
Treating Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea can be effectively treated. Depending on whether your snoring or OSA is mild, moderate or severe, your dentist will select the treatment that is best for you.
Oral Appliances - If you have snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea, an oral appliance can be an effective first-line therapy. The oral appliance is a molded device that is placed in the mouth at night to hold the lower jaw and bring the tongue forward. By bringing the jaw forward, the appliance elevates the soft palate or retains the tongue to keep it from falling back in the airway and blocking breathing. Although not as effective as the continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) systems, oral appliances are indicated for use in patients with snoring or mild to moderate OSA who prefer oral appliances, who do not respond to C-PAP, are not appropriate candidates for C-PAP, or who fail treatment attempts with C-PAP or behavioral changes.
Patients using an oral appliance should have regular follow-up office visits with their dentist to monitor compliance, to ensure the appliance is functioning correctly and to make sure their symptoms are not worsening.
C-PAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and Bi-PAP (Bi-Level) - A C-PAP device is an effective treatment for patients with moderate OSA and the first-line treatment for those diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. Through a specially fitted mask that fits over the patient's nose, the C-PAP's constant, prescribed flow of pressured air prevents the airway or throat from collapsing. In some cases a Bi-PAP device, which blows air at two different pressures, may be used.
While C-PAP and Bi-PAP devices keep the throat open and prevent snoring and interruptions in breathing, they only treat your condition and do not cure it. If you stop using the C-PAP or Bi-PAP, your symptoms will return. Although C-PAP and Bi-PAP are often the first treatments of choice, they may be difficult for some patients to accept and use. If you find you are unable to use these devices, do not discontinue their use without talking to your dentist. Your dentist can suggest other effective treatments.
Your dentist has other treatment options, including the following:
Radio Frequency (RF) of the Soft Palate uses radio waves to shrink the tissue in the throat or tongue, thereby increasing the space in the throat and making airway obstruction less likely. Over the course of several treatments the inner tissue shrinks while the outer tissue remains unharmed. Several treatments may be required, but the long-term success of this procedure has not as yet been determined.
Laser-Assisted Uvuloplasty (LAUP) is a surgical procedure that removes the uvula and surrounding tissue to open the airway behind the palate. This procedure is generally used to relieve snoring and can be performed in the dentist or Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon's office with local or general anesthesia.
Surgery for Sleep Apnea
Surgical intervention may be a viable alternative for some OSA patients; however, it is important to keep in mind that no surgical procedure is universally successful. Every patient has a different shaped nose and throat, so before surgery is considered your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon will measure the airway at several points and check for any abnormal flow of air from the nose to lungs. Be assured, your doctor has considerable experience and the necessary training and skill to perform the following surgical procedures:
Hyoid Suspension - If collapse occurs at the tongue base, a hyoid suspension may be indicated. The hyoid bone is a U-shaped bone in the neck located above the level of the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple) that has attachments to the muscles of the tongue as well as other muscles and soft tissues around the throat. The procedure secures the hyoid bone to the thyroid cartilage and helps to stabilize this region of the airway.
Genioglossus Advancement (GGA) - GGA was developed specifically to treat obstructive sleep apnea, and is designed to open the upper breathing passage. The procedure tightens the front tongue tendon; thereby, reducing the degree of tongue displacement into the throat. This operation is often performed in tandem with at least one other procedure such as the UPPP or hyoid suspension.
Maxillomandibular Advancement (MMA) - MMA is a procedure that surgically moves the upper and lower jaws forward. As the bones are surgically advanced, the soft tissues of the tongue and palate are also moved forward, again opening the upper airway. For some individuals, the MMA is the only technique that can create the necessary air passageway to resolve their OSA condition.
Diagnosis of sleep Apnea or OSA
If you Snore and exhibit any of the symptoms listed above, you should a dentist or doctor trained in diagnosing and treating Snoring and OSA
At your first visit, your dentist or doctor will take a medical history and perform a head and neck examination looking for problems that might contribute to sleep-related breathing problems. An interview with your bed partner or other household members about your sleeping and waking behavior may be in order. If the dentist or doctor suspects a sleep disorder, you may be referred to a sleep clinic, which will monitor your nighttime sleep patterns through a special test called polysomnography. Your dentist or doctor may give you a home testing device to diagnose abnormal sleep patterns.
Polysomnography will require you to sleep at the clinic overnight while a video camera monitors your sleep pattern and gathers data about the number and length of each breathing cessation or other problems that disturb your sleep. Often a "split night" study is done during which a C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device, or oral appliance is used. During polysomnography, every effort is made to limit disturbances to your sleep.
Talk With Your Dentist Or Doctor
Sleep apnea is a serious condition and individuals with OSA may not be aware they have a problem. If someone close to you has spoken of your loud snoring and has noticed that you often wake up abruptly, gasping for air, you should consult your Dentist or Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.
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Treatments that may alleviate snoring include:
- Weight loss — as little as 10 pounds may be enough to make a difference.
- Change of sleeping position — Because you tend to snore more when sleeping on your back, sleeping on your side may be helpful.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals — especially within two hours of bedtime.
- Avoid sedatives — which can relax your throat muscles and increase the tendency for airway obstruction related to snoring.
Dr. Neal is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
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(815) 459-2202
Crystal Lake Dental Associates
Located at 280 B Memorial Court Crystal Lake Illinois 60014
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You deserve a comfortable, healthy , and beautiful smile. Dr. Neal is a general dentist with special training to treat patients for snoring and sleep apnea in Crystal Lake, Huntley, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Woodstock, McHenry, Cary, and the surrounding McHenry county area.