The subject of the first seminar I went to last week was Dental Sleep Medicine. I chose to pursue this study for a very personal reason—I have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is a condition where during sleep, the soft tissues of the airway collapse, causing a disruption of breathing and, as a consequence, an interruption of sleep. Apnea can affect anybody, children or adults, men or women, fat or thin.
Apnea is more than just an interruption of sleep. During an apnic event, the body is deprived of oxygen. This may happen hundreds of times per night. That can’t be good! Apnea has been linked to a host of common adult diseases, such as hypertension, heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and many others. Because of this, I believe it is important to get a proper diagnosis from a certified sleep physician, who will then oversee the treatment plan.
So where do I come in? Many people are unwilling or unable to tolerate the first line of defense for apnea, a CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine. The CPAP works by oxygen blowing into the airway, forcing the soft tissue open. More significant apnea requires higher air pressure, which is even more difficult to endure. Surgical solutions are available, but they are invasive and unreliable. As a dentist, I am already the guardian to the opening of the airway—the mouth. I can make a custom-fitted appliance, worn on the teeth at night, that gently repositions the lower jaw forward, opening the back of the throat. For mild to moderate OSA, that may be the only treatment that is needed or, for more severe cases, it may be used in conjunction with the CPAP to reduce the air pressure of the machine.
The appliance is adjusted at home by the patient, until the optimal level of comfort and efficacy is reached. Better health, better concentration, better relationships—these are just a few of the benefits of a better night’s sleep.
