Sleep Apnea – What Causes it & What are the Treatment Options

What are the causes of sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. These muscles support the soft palate, the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils and the tongue.

When the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and breathing momentarily stops. This may lower the level of oxygen in your blood. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can reopen your airway. This awakening is usually so brief that you don't remember it.

People with obstructive sleep apnea may not be aware that their sleep was interrupted. In fact, many people with this type of sleep apnea think they sleep well all night.

What are my Treatment Options?
For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If these measures don't improve your signs and symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments are available. Certain devices can help open up a blocked airway.

Treatments for sleep apnea may include:

Therapies
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP – pronounced SEE-pap). If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, you may benefit from a machine that delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your nose while you sleep. With CPAP, the air pressure is somewhat greater than that of the surrounding air, and is just enough to keep your upper airway passages open, preventing apnea and snoring.
Although CPAP is a preferred method of treating sleep apnea, some people find it cumbersome or uncomfortable. Check with your doctor to see what modifications can be made to make you more comfortable.

CPAP Alternatives – An Oral Appliance
Because CPAP is a mask worn during the night and is dependent on the use of a machine, it may be uncomfortable and cumbersome for many people. Active people who enjoy sleeping out of doors or who travel often are not good candidates for CPAP. Luckily, there is a better alternative for sleep apnea treatment.

At the Coleman Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer a convenient, comfortable alternative to sleep apnea treatment – a custom made oral appliance. We can fabricate an oral appliance (The SomnoDent MAS™ Appliance) that is worn only while you sleep. It has no machine, no mask.  A patient can talk with it in his/her mouth, and even drink from a glass. The SomnoDent MAS Appliance has many advantages over traditional CPAP therapy, including: Cost effective, Excellent patient acceptance and compliance, Reversible therapy (non-surgical) & Non-invasive. Best of all, these patients can once again get a good, restful, healthy night’s sleep in the same room as their spouse.

Contact Dr. Coleman today to setup your Free Sleep Apnea Consultation.

What takes place during a consult for Sleep Apnea?

The screening process in our office will usually consist of:

• Complete medical/dental history
• Intraoral exam and evaluation of the head, neck, teeth, and supporting structures
• Evaluation of occlusion and TMJ
• Administration of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale-a screening tool

Contact Dr. Coleman today to learn more about the SomnoDent MAS Appliance and Click here to read a testimonial about the SomnoDent MAS™.

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Dr. Paul Coleman and his team at The Coleman Center for Cosemetic Dentistry, located at 12324 Oak Knoll Rd. Poway, CA 92064, have been proudly serving the Dental, Cosmetic Dentistry & Neuromuscular Dentistry needs of San Deigo for over 20 Years. Contact us today to setup your Free Dental Consultation & get the Smile You Deserve.