[vc_row alt_color=”” alt_bg_color=”” parallax=”” full_width=”” full_screen=”” background_overlay=”” mask=”” mask_style=”50″ vertical_align=”” padding_size=”” el_class=””][vc_column alt_color=”” alt_bg_color=”” text_align=”” padding_size=”” el_class=”” width=”1/1″][heading title=”Sleep Disorder” style=”4″][vc_custom_heading text=”Sleep is as important to your health as diet and exercise. Without enough sleep, it’s impossible to live your life to its fullest. By the most basic definition, anyone who doesn’t get enough quality sleep has a “sleep disorder” – a broad term that is used to identify a range of problems.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:26px|text_align:center|line_height:36px” google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:300%20light%20regular%3A300%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][vc_accordion collapsible=”yes” disable_keyboard=”” active_tab=”false”][vc_accordion_tab icon=”fa fa-plus-circle” title=”Causes”][vc_column_text]Sleep problems have many causes:
It could be a problem with your airway and/or your breathing, such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. It could be a problem with the way signals travel to and from your brain, such as narcolepsy. It could be a condition that causes uncontrollable leg movements at night – that is, restless legs syndrome. Or it could be one of the many problems that lead to insomnia, such as stress.
Sleep disorders are common among patients who suffer from allergies, ulcers, arthritis, heart disease, asthma, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
If you or someone you love is suffering from a lack of restful sleep, a smart first step is to discuss your concerns with a dentist who is trained in dental sleep medicine. He or she will review your dental and medical history, evaluate your airway and nasal passages using state-of-the-art technology and, if warranted, recommend treatment or refer you to the right kind of sleep specialist.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab icon=”fa fa-plus-circle” title=”Known Sleep Disorders”][vc_column_text]
- Snoring
- Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Sleep Bruxism
- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
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According to the American Sleep Apnea Foundation, more than 12 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and it is estimated, conservatively, that 10 million Americans remain undiagnosed. Are you one of them?
When the muscles of the jaws, soft palate and the tongue become too relaxed during sleep, they can sag and partially or completely block your airway. As you struggle to breathe, your body becomes distressed and you become partially awake, nearly every time this event occurs. These episodes can occur hundreds of times each night, keeping you from reaching the deep, restorative sleep your body requires and putting a great deal of stress on your heart. Since this can have serious consequences, we urge anyone who is concerned about the quality of their sleep to contact their physician or a dental professional with advanced training in dental sleep medicine.
Read More ->[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab icon=”fa fa-plus-circle” title=”Treatment”][vc_column_text]After a thorough examination of the airway and nasal passages, if the problem is found to be in the nasal passages or adenoids and tonsils a referral will be given to an otolaryngologist (ENT) with the testing results for the ENT to be able to determine the degree of obstruction and necessity for surgery.
However if SDB is due to a malformation of the teeth and jaw then we will be able to evaluate the child for oral appliance therapy. With oral appliance therapy we can correct structural problems such as recessed jaw, narrow arches that may be leading to airway narrowing or collapsing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab icon=”fa fa-plus-circle” title=”CPAP Intolerant”][vc_column_text]
CPAP is an extremely effective therapy; however, nationally only 45% of patients using CPAP machines continue to use them.
The American Sleep Disorders Association is recommending dental appliance treatment for patients with severe OSA who are intolerant of, or refuse treatment with, CPAP.
A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a machine that delivers lightly pressurized air through a hose to a small nose mask. The flow of the air acts like an “air splint” to keep the upper airway open and prevent apnea (i.e., shortness of breath). CPAP machines have 99% efficiency in restoring normal breathing during sleep. They have also undergone many improvements since an Australian invented the first one from a vacuum cleaner and a length of hose. However, the rate of patient compliance with CPAP is less than 50%.
Thanks to advances in dental sleep medicine, qualified dentists can effectively treat many patients who suffer from snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, upper airway resistance syndrome and other sleep-disordered breathing problems using oral appliance therapy.
An oral sleep appliance is similar in appearance to an athletic mouthguard, and it is worn during sleep to maintain airway patency. Oral sleep appliances are safe, less expensive vs. CPAP or surgery, and easy to use.
There are also few, if any, side effects. However, one size does not fit all. There are currently six (6) different FDA-approved oral appliances we can use to treat sleep-disordered breathing. Regardless of the appliance selected, to be effective, it must be properly customized and precision fit for each patient. For some patients, an oral sleep appliance can eliminate the need for CPAP or surgery. For patients with more severe sleep problems, an oral appliance can be an effective and convenient adjunct therapy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab icon=”fa fa-plus-circle” title=”Pediatric Sleep Disorders”][vc_column_text]
Children can also snore and suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Often they are highly allergic and their airway is blocked due to enlarged adenoids, tonsils or swollen nasal mucosa. The snoring or labored breathing can also be due to structural problems of the jaw and teeth. Sleep Disordered Breathing ranges in severity, from snoring to different digrees of airway obstruction. This is why it is important to have a dentist trained in SDB to evaluate the situation.
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner alt_color=”” alt_bg_color=”” background_overlay=”” mask=”” mask_style=”50″ vertical_align=”” padding_size=”” el_class=””][vc_column_inner alt_color=”” alt_bg_color=”” text_align=”” padding_size=”” el_class=”” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Some of the things to pay attention to at home are:
- Abnormal sleep position
- Restless sleep
- Difficulty waking up
- Bed-wetting
- Headaches during the day
- Stop breathing during the night
- Irritability
- Difficulty in concentrating at school
- Hyperactivity
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner alt_color=”” alt_bg_color=”” text_align=”” padding_size=”” el_class=”” width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]THE FACTS!
- 81% of snoring children with ADHD could have their ADHD eliminated if their habitual snoring were effectively treated. (Chervin, R.D., et.al., Symptoms of Sleep Disorders, Inattention and Hyperactivity in Children, 1997, Sleep 20(12): 1185-1192).
- Using a dental sleep appliance can eliminate the need for surgical removal of the tonsils in some cases.
- Nighttime bedwetting ceased in 10 cases studied when oral therapies were used to reduce nasal constriction. (Timms, D., Rapid Maxillary Expansion in the Treatment of Nocturnal Enuresis. The Angle Orthodontist, 1990, 60(3).
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Unlike adults, children who suffer from sleep-disordered breathing are often likely to exhibit hyperactivity during the day.
Restful sleep is essential to your child’s health
Undiagnosed and untreated pediatric sleep disorders have been linked to a spectrum of health and behavioral issues, including
- Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder (ADHD)
- Nocturnal Enurosis (Nighttime Bed Wetting)
- Weight Gain or Obesity
- Nightmares
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- Why should I consult a dentist about my sleep concerns?
- If I snore, does that mean I have obstructive sleep apnea?
- Can a dental appliance stop snoring?
- Can a dental sleep appliance replace my CPAP machine?
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