How Your Dentist Can Help Diagnose & Treat Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can pose a variety of risks to your overall health. Dentists are often the first line of defense against sleep apnea and can help identify and treat mild sleep apnea by spotting dental signs, recommending sleep studies, and providing custom oral appliances. This comfortable, effective solution helps improve breathing, reduce snoring, and boost sleep quality.
While only a certified sleep specialist can diagnose sleep apnea, dentists like Dr. Kristen Campbell and Dr. Donna Sparks at Norman Smile Center can be the first to recognize its risks and symptoms. With their expertise in oral and facial structures, they can identify key signs that may indicate sleep apnea. They can also provide screenings, outside referrals to other specialists, and administer at-home sleep tests that can assist in the development of treatment recommendations.
Sleep Apnea: More Than Just Snoring
Sleep apnea is a condition where you briefly stop breathing during sleep due to a blocked airway. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), happens when throat muscles relax too much, narrowing or closing your airway. This leads to reduced oxygen flow, causing you to wake up — often without realizing it.
Although snoring is one of the most common indicators of sleep apnea, the condition isn’t just about loud snoring. It can leave you feeling exhausted, foggy-headed, and irritable during the day. Left untreated, it increases the risk of serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The good news is that dentists can help identify and treat mild sleep apnea before it worsens.
Different Types of Sleep Apnea
While OSA is the most common, there are other types of sleep apnea:
- Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): This occurs when your brain doesn’t send the right signals to your breathing muscles. Unlike OSA, the issue isn’t a physical blockage, but a failure in communication between the brain and body.
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Also known as treatment-emergent sleep apnea, this is a combination of OSA and CSA. It can sometimes develop when OSA is treated with a CPAP machine and CSA symptoms emerge.
Understanding the type of sleep apnea you have is important for finding the right treatment. While dentists primarily address mild OSA, they can recognize the symptoms of each type and help you get the appropriate care.
How Your Dental Health Could Point to Sleep Apnea
Believe it or not, your dentist might spot sleep apnea before you do. During routine checkups, dentists look for signs like:
- Worn Teeth. Grinding your teeth (bruxism) at night is common with sleep apnea. You might notice your teeth aching or becoming more sensitive.
- Enlarged Tonsils or a Small Jaw. These can narrow your airway and put you at risk for sleep apnea.
- Redness in the Throat. This can be caused by snoring or mouth breathing.
- A Scalloped Tongue. Indentations along the edges of your tongue suggest that it is pushing against your teeth — a sign of airway obstruction.
Dentists are trained to spot these signs and may ask you about your sleep quality and possibly recommend a sleep study.
How a Dentist Can Help Diagnose Sleep Apnea
During your routine exams and checkups, your dentist isn’t just checking for cavities; he or she is also looking for signs of oral conditions like cancer, and can play a role in diagnosing sleep apnea.
During your regular dentist visit, your dentist may ask questions about your sleep patterns such as:
- Do you snore loudly?
- Do you wake up with headaches or a dry mouth?
- Do you feel especially tired during the day?
These screenings, combined with a physical exam of your mouth and throat, can reveal clues about potential sleep apnea.
If your dentist suspects sleep apnea, they may recommend a home sleep study or refer you to a sleep specialist for a more in-depth evaluation. Early diagnosis is key to preventing the serious health risks of untreated sleep apnea.
Why Catching Sleep Apnea Early Matters
Sleep apnea doesn’t just lead to poor sleep — it can seriously affect your health if left untreated. When your breathing stops repeatedly during sleep, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen. This puts extra strain on your heart and can lead to:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease and stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Daytime fatigue and increased irritability
Catching and addressing sleep apnea early means better sleep, more energy during the day, and a lower risk for these serious conditions. Your dentist can help you take proactive steps to improve your sleep and protect your overall health.
Oral Appliance Therapy: A Comfortable, Effective Solution for Mild Sleep Apnea
If you have mild to moderate sleep apnea, you may not need a cumbersome CPAP machine. Oral appliance therapy offers a simpler, less invasive treatment that many patients prefer. This custom-made device, similar to a mouthguard, helps keep your airway open during sleep, allowing for better breathing and a more restful night.
The oral appliances used by Drs. Campbell and Sparks at Norman Smile Center have received approval from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) for the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea, a trusted and reliable organization that guides the practices of sleep care.
How Oral Appliances Work
An oral appliance works by gently repositioning your lower jaw or tongue to prevent your airway from collapsing during sleep. By keeping the airway open, it helps your breathe more easily and reduces or eliminates snoring. The device is designed specifically for your mouth, ensuring a comfortable and effective fit.
Unlike CPAP machines, which use forced air and require wearing a mask, oral appliances are easy to use and maintain. Many patients find them more comfortable, which increases the likelihood they will use them consistently — a key factor in successful sleep apnea treatment.
The Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy Over Other Treatments
Oral appliance therapy offers several advantages over traditional CPAP therapy, particularly for those with mild sleep apnea. While CPAP is highly effective, it comes with some discomfort, noise, and bulkiness, which can discourage regular use.
Instead, oral appliances are:
- Comfortable. CPAP machines have masks, straps, and hoses to deal with. Oral appliances instead fit like a custom mouthguard and are comfortable to use.
- Portable. Compact and lightweight, oral appliances are easy to pack and travel with — perfect for frequent travelers or anyone who wants a simpler solution on the go.
- Low Maintenance. Unlike the more complex maintenance required for CPAP machines, cleaning and caring for an oral appliance is quick and easy.
- Quiet and Non-Intrusive. Oral appliances don’t make any noise, allowing you — and your partner — to enjoy a quiet, restful night.
Oral appliance therapy is also highly customizable and can be tailored to your specific needs. Using an intraoral scanner, your dentist can take digital impressions of your teeth and design an appliance that fits your unique mouth perfectly. Follow-up visits ensure the device continues to fit well and allow the dentist to make adjustments if needed, providing a comfortable, personalized solution that ensures the appliance is working as intended.
Is Oral Appliance Therapy Right for You?
If you’ve been diagnosed with mild sleep apnea or have trouble using a CPAP machine, oral appliance therapy could be an excellent solution for you. It’s especially beneficial if you experience:
- Frequent snoring that disrupts your sleep or your partner’s.
- Mild sleep apnea symptoms, such as daytime fatigue or headaches.
- Difficulty adjusting to ro maintaining a CPAP routine.
Because oral appliances are custom-made, they provide an effective alternative that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.
Take the First Step Toward Treating Sleep Apnea with Norman Smile Center
At Norman Smile Center, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Sparks are dedicated to helping patients achieve their best oral and overall health, and that includes managing sleep apnea effectively. In addition to compassionate, comprehensive care, they also offer the latest in precision dentistry, digital imaging, diagnostics, and advanced techniques and procedures, including sleep apnea treatment. If oral appliance therapy is the right choice for you, they’ll create a custom device designed for maximum comfort and effectiveness.
For more severe cases of sleep apnea, they also work closely with local sleep specialists to ensure you get the right diagnosis and treatment plan so you can sleep peacefully.
If you’re tired of feeling exhausted, dealing with constant snoring, or waking up with headaches, the team of experienced dental professionals at Norman Smile Center can help you find a solution. Don’t ignore the signs of sleep apnea, because early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in your quality of life.
Call Norman Smile Center today at 405-329-6603 to schedule your appointment, or use our convenient online contact form, and start the journey to better sleep.