RESOLVING SLEEP APNEA

Sleep Dentistry

Sleep dentistry addresses issues of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring, which can block airflow while sleeping, resulting in the disruption of healthy sleep patterns.

This may cause snoring or choking as your body tries to bring in air into its airways. Treatments include the wearing of oral appliances, or the use of machines to deliver air.

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What Causes Sleep Apnea?

There are three types of sleep apnea; each type is caused by a different set of conditions. The types include Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), and mixed sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

OSA manifests when the muscles at the back of your throat narrows or blocks the airways, completely or partially blocking the flow of air. Patients suffering from this condition therefore experience lapses in their breathing when sleeping - affecting the amount of oxygen received by the body. Their quality of sleep is hence compromised.

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)

Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked, but the brain does not send signals to the respiratory muscles in a way it would in a brain that functions normally. Therefore your breathing starts and repeatedly stops throughout the duration of your sleep.

Mixed Sleep Apnea

Mixed sleep apnea is a condition where a patient has both conditions of OSA and CSA.

What is Sleep Dentistry?

Dentists are usually the first line of defence for diagnosing a potential patient of sleep apnea. Signs of teeth grinding, worn teeth and gum recession could signal several underlying issues, one of which is sleep apnea.

A sleep study would first be carried out to determine if one does have sleep apnea.

If one is overweight, one should first make attempts to monitor and willfully reduce their weight. Adopting a healthy lifestyle that incorporates eating the right type of food in appropriate quantities would help.

One of the following steps would be taken to mitigate the symptoms of Sleep Apnea:

Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is where continuous airflow is delivered through a nasal mask worn by patients.
An air compressor is connected to a tube which is attached to this mask. The air delivered through this compressor exerts pressure and keeps muscles from blocking the airway.

Oral Appliances

The use of a dental device that prevents the tongue from blocking the throat and hence allowing air to flow through the airways unobstructed would be prescribed.
Another type of device that adjusts the lower jaw but that also achieves the same objective, might also be used.

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Benefits of Sleep Dentistry

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Enhanced Sleep Quality

With the correction of sleep apnea, you will now be able to have uninterrupted sleep. This will allow the body to recharge and be mentally and physically ready for the next day.

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Less Moodiness & Enhanced Well-being

With enhanced quality sleep, you would feel rested, instead of feeling weary and lacking in energy. You will be energised and will now feel ready to take on the day.

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Less Forgetfulness and Enhanced Memory & Concentration

With adequate good quality sleep, the effort required to focus is much less, allowing you to carry out tasks that require your judgement such as reasoning exercises.

Do I Need Sleep Dentistry Treatment?

You may have sleep apnea and require a consultation if:

The three different types of sleep apnea cause similar symptoms in patients. Interrupted breathing throughout the night results in less oxygen being sent to the different parts of the body, including the brain. This causes one or a combination of the following symptoms:

Grinding of teeth (bruxism), causing teeth to wear down
Cavities due to grinding
Gum recession
Snoring
Drowsiness during the day, a feeling of haziness and lack of clarity
Forgetfulness
Moodiness
Headaches
Swelling of the limbs (In severe cases)

As a patient suffering from sleep apnea has to deal with one or several of these symptoms, he or she is not able to function optimally. His or her ability to make well thought out decisions with mental clarity is decreased, and their performance at work or school suffers. It might psychologically affect the mood of some patients, where they develop depression. Symptoms of drowsiness and forgetfulness affect everyday activities like driving.

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Why Should I Resolve My Sleep Apnea Condition?

Sleep is vital to the body’s ability to function. When the quality of sleep is lowered, overall health and well-being could be affected. It allows the body to rest and repair, recharging for each novel day.

When a victim of sleep apnea is sleep-deprived, the sympathetic nervous system is activated when it should be getting rest. When this happens, stress levels are increased, increasing the risk of the following conditions:

High blood pressure
Heart disease
Heart attack
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity

In severe cases of sleep apnea, the risk of developing these conditions is increased.

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Why Choose Nuffield Dental?

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. At Nuffield, we put you first. We believe in providing personalised service for each patient.

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. Here at Nuffield Dental, we pride ourselves of our personalised oral care for each and every one of our patients. We need to make sure you get all the help you need to make your dental procedures comfortable, accessible and seamless.

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Our dentists have specialised in sleep dentistry for 20+ years. We have accredited dental providers who are skilled in the area of dental implant surgery.

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