Sleep Apnea Specialist

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common condition that happens when breathing is disrupted or stops altogether when you’re sleeping. It’s caused by soft tissues in the throat collapsing and blocking the airway.

People with sleep apnea may snore or make choking sounds during sleep. Although we all hear funny stories about trying to while your partner is snoring, untreated sleep apnea is serious. Along with daytime drowsiness, it may cause many health issues, including:

• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Heart attack

There are two basic types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea: The most common form of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is caused by blocked airflow.

Central sleep apnea: This type of sleep apnea is caused when the brain fails to tell the muscles to breathe.  

What are the treatment options for sleep apnea?

In some cases of sleep apnea, surgery to remove tonsils or other parts of the soft palate or throat is performed. However, most of the time, less invasive means of treating the symptoms are recommended and tried first.

Treatments for sleep apnea include:

• Behavioral solutions such as changing your sleeping position or losing weight
• Continuous positive air pressure, more commonly called CPAP, which provides free-flowing air through the nasal passages
• Oral appliances that provide support to the jaw, keeping the airway open

What is the difference between CPAP and an oral appliance?

CPAP is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP is a mask that covers your nose and mouth that you wear while you sleep. Flexible tubing on the mask supplies a continuous flow of forced air. Although CPAP is effective, many patients don’t like using it due to its size, noise level, and difficulty to clean, and ultimately stop treatment.

For her patients with sleep apnea, Dr. Yang may recommend an oral appliance, which is a custom-fitted device that looks like a mouthguard. An oral appliance is a comfortable, portable, option that can relieve obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, including snoring.

Why are dentists involved in sleep apnea treatment?

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, dentists are often the medical professionals who pick up on sleep apnea symptoms, such as dry mouth. More and more dentists are taking additional training in dental sleep medicine to treat their patients with sleep apnea issues.

If you think you’re suffering from sleep apnea, make an appointment with Dr. Yang for your journey to a better night’s sleep. Book your appointment online or call today.