Red Deer Sleep Apnea/Snoring Therapy

Sleep apnea is a common, though dangerous, condition that occurs when breathing is interrupted while you sleep. These stoppages in breathing can occur hundreds of times during the night, without you even realizing. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common of the three and occurs when the upper airway is blocked either partly or completely during sleep. In central sleep apnea, the airway is not blocked, but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breath due to instability in the respiratory control centre. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea can present a significant health risk to patients, such as stroke or heart attack, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, learning memory problems, stroke, or heart attack, and can potentially decrease lifespan by up to 15 years.

Dentists often see the associated physical conditions of sleep apnea, including wear on the teeth from grinding and clenching, and the effects to the tissues of the mouth. The most recommended treatment for patients with sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). However, many patients find it difficult to remain compliant with this form of treatment, since it is cumbersome to travel with, bulky, noisy, and uncomfortable to wear. Consequently, an alternative may be recommended. For patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, Neighborhood Dental is pleased to offer oral appliance therapy treatment. Similar to nightguards, oral appliances that treat sleep apnea are small custom fit devices that securely fit in your mouth over your upper and lower teeth, and work to reposition the lower jaw to open the airway and prevent the tongue and mandible from blocking the airway during sleep, thereby encouraging significant oxygen delivery throughout your body. Oral appliances that treat sleep apnea are small, convenient to carry when travelling, easy to wear, and much more comfortable than a CPAP machine. Most importantly, these oral appliances have been proven to be highly effective at treating sleep apnea.