Sleep Apnea

If you feel like you have no energy and are too tired to keep up with your friends and family, you should visit our dental office to talk about sleep apnea. A simple, non-invasive treatment may be just what you need to feel like yourself again. To schedule an appointment with our dental office, call (305) 614-2438. We will be happy to discuss your treatment.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that makes it difficult for your body to receive the oxygen you need to properly function. Without enough oxygen, you will feel drained and sluggish, but since the condition manifests itself at night, you may have no idea you have it.

How does sleep apnea impact your health?

Many health problems can arise from untreated sleep apnea, including a stroke, high blood pressure, headaches, diabetes, depression, mood swings, heart failure, ADHD that becomes worse, and an overall lack of well-being.

How does sleep apnea negatively impact a person’s life?

Without enough oxygen, your body will have a difficult time functioning. Beyond the health effects, this can translate to not having enough energy to stay awake past dinner time, enjoy your kid’s birthday parties, go for a bike ride, or even drive your car. In fact, when you are tired, the basic and often mundane activities of life can put you to sleep. This can make it dangerous to get behind the wheel and compromise your work performance. Essentially, your quality of life can be significantly diminished, making it critical that you visit Gables Exceptional Dentistry to have your sleep apnea treated.

What is the difference between sleep apnea and a sleep disorder?

Sleep apnea is a physical condition that makes it impossible to breathe clearly while you are sleeping. As a result, your body will not get enough oxygen to function optimally. A sleep disorder can be one of the following:

  • Insomnia
    Often brought on by external factors like stress, insomnia can be treated with an oral medication.
  • Narcolepsy
    Narcolepsy makes you feel so exhausted that you suddenly fall asleep, regardless of where you are or what you are doing.
  • Restless leg syndrome
    Commonly impacting pregnant women, restless leg syndrome can force your legs to move throughout the night. Giving you a feeling of constant tingling or a burning and itching sensation, RLS can be highly distracting and impact anyone at any time.

  • Jet lag
    While most people view jet lag as a part of long-distance travel, it is a real sleep disorder, and if your body does not adjust well to the changes in time zones, jet lag could impact you for days or even weeks if you continue to travel from place to place. This disruption in your sleep patterns can make it difficult to get caught up on the rest you need, and may leave you feeling worn down to the point of potentially getting sick.

  • Snoring
    If you snore too loudly, you could wake up your Coral Gables neighbors, your spouse, or just yourself. Many people cannot get a good night’s sleep because they snore too loudly, and this condition is often brought on by sleep apnea.

What are the two main types of sleep apnea?

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
    When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your lower jawbone muscles are too weak to hold your jaw in place as you sleep. As a result, your jaw can fall backward along with your tongue, blocking your airway and making it impossible to breathe clearly while sleeping. People with OSA will typically snore or sound like they are choking in their sleep. Another cause of OSA is having too much fatty tissue in the back of your throat. This is one reason obesity is a risk factor for OSA.
  • Central Sleep Apnea
    With CSA, the brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles in charge of breathing, and your body fails to respond as it should. This is not something that can be treated by a dentist. Instead, you will need to see a specialist.

How is sleep apnea treated?

At Gables Exceptional Dentistry, we recommend that patients explore all non-invasive sleep apnea treatment options. We often suggest that our Coral Gables, FL patients wear a removable oral appliance.

An oral appliance is a convenient treatment option because it does not make any noise and is incredibly discreet. Some patients also require the use of a CPAP machine to provide them with additional oxygen. The challenge with CPAP is that it can be loud and uncomfortable to wear. The third treatment option for OSA is to have surgery to remove the extra fatty tissue blocking your airway.

How does an oral appliance work?

Wearing an oral appliance is incredibly easy. It is customized for your mouth specifically, so it fits snugly and securely. As a result, you can simply slip it into place when you go to sleep. The oral appliance remains in place and does an excellent job of holding your lower jaw in the forward position, preventing your tongue from falling backward and keeping your airway clear.

For some people, wearing an oral appliance is enough to relieve their sleep apnea symptoms. Patients with severe sleep apnea may require a CPAP machine as well. Most patients following this regimen plan report that their CPAP is far more comfortable than when they were using it as a standalone treatment option.

To learn more about sleep apnea or discuss your oral health in general, call (305) 614-2438 and schedule an appointment with our Coral Gables dental office. At Gables Exceptional Dentistry, we are happy to discuss your health challenges and make recommendations, even if we have to refer you to a specialist for treatment.

Questions Answered on This Page

Q. What is sleep apnea?

Q. Is sleep apnea a sleep disorder?

Q. What are the treatment options for sleep apnea?

People Also Ask

Q. What do I need to know when searching for a dentist?

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Dental Terminology

Cosmetic Dentistry

Any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums, and/or bite.

Decay

When the tooth enamel begins to erode from plaque and tartar buildup.

Dental Caries

Also known as a cavity and results from a lack of proper oral hygiene and plaque buildup that forms tiny holes in the teeth.

Dental Checkup

An appointment that involves cleaning the teeth, identifying any signs of infection, and removing them at least once every six months in the office.

Dental Filling

A treatment to restore the structure of a tooth with metal, alloy, porcelain, or plastic.

Dental Prophylaxis

A professional and detailed cleaning that involves the removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth.

Dental Sealant

A resinous material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth to prevent dental caries.

Dentist

A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.

Gingivitis

The inflammation of gum tissue that results from plaque, other infections in the mouth, and poor oral hygiene.

Preventive Dentistry

The branch of dentistry that focuses on maintaining oral health to prevent the spread of plaque, tartar, and infections in the mouth.

Tartar

A hard substance that forms when plaque builds up on the surface of the teeth and calcifies.

Tooth Enamel

The protective visible outer surface of a tooth that contains the dentin and dental pulp.