Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders and can range from mild to very serious. According to the American Sleep Association, over 12 million Americans are currently struggling with sleep apnea, a condition that causes you stop breathing or experience extremely shallow breathing while you are asleep. These episodes can last 10 seconds all the way up to 20 seconds, or more in severe cases, and occur up to 30 times an hour.
There are several forms of sleep apnea, but the most common form is obstructive sleep apnea. This means that your airway is blocked or narrowed as you sleep. Air can’t pass through your windpipe into your lungs, so you stop breathing and the oxygen level in your body drops. People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea begin breathing again with noise that may sound like a cough or choke, almost as if the person is struggling for air.
Sleep apnea can leave a person feeling sluggish throughout the day because they aren’t getting restful sleep. Patients suffering from this disorder often find themselves falling asleep while they are reading, watching TV, sitting at a computer or even while they are driving. There are many ways to treat sleep apnea, but those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may benefit from seeing a dentist.
Sleep Apnea dentists can fit patients with dental devices that can help them keep their airway unobstructed while they sleep. This type of treatment works best for those who have mild to moderate sleep apnea. For patients in Las Vegas, sleep apnea has been successfully treated for many years at ABC Dental Care by Dr. Kevin Khorshid and his team.
Why See A Dentist For Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea isn’t just about snoring or losing sleep. It is a serious disorder that can lead to stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, and even death. It must be treated for the health and safety of those who suffer from the disorder.
Many sleep apnea patients opt for a treatment that involves noisy CPAP machines. These devices are expensive, can disrupt the patient’s sleep even further, and may bother the patient’s sleep partner. In cases of mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea, a dental device is often the most affordable and least intrusive form of treatment. In fact, in 2006, The American Academy of Sleep Medicine declared dental appliances to be a worthwhile alternative or replacement therapy for patients with mild to moderate apnea who found their CPAP machines to be disruptive.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a medical problem, so before making a recommendation about an oral appliance, Dr. Khorshid will review your referral from your physician or your sleep study and conduct his own physical examination of your mouth and throat. After a thorough analysis, he will determine if you are a candidate for a dental device for your sleep apnea.
If you are a candidate, Dr. Kevin can fit you with a device that will reposition the jaw and/or tongue to help create space in the airway during sleep. These devices, which resemble athletic mouth guards, are soundless and painless. These are not devices that you can run out and purchase at a drug store. They are custom-fit to your mouth and jaw to create enough space for you to breathe but will still allow you to close your mouth during sleep.
In order for the treatment to be effective, the patient must be committed to wearing the mouth piece every night and taking proper care of their appliance. But Dr. Khorshid’s sleep apnea patients report more restful sleep, less snoring, and improved relations with their spouse or sleeping partner.
Choose The Best Sleep Apnea Dentist
Not all dentists in the Las Vegas area are able to help sleep apnea patients. Dr. Khorshid and his team at ABC Dental Care are trained to understand sleep apnea and make the proper recommendations for their patients. If you suspect you suffer from this disorder, or you have been diagnosed and find your CPAP machine to be too bulky or intrusive, call ABC Dental Care today and make an appointment to discuss your options for your sleep apnea symptoms.