Stop Snoring Due to Sleep Apnea Disorder with Custom Made Mouthpiece by San Francisco Expert Dentist

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Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. Each episode lasts long enough so that one or more breaths are missed, and such episodes occur repeatedly throughout sleep. Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. This most often means that the airway has collapsed or is blocked during sleep. The blockage may cause shallow breathing or breathing to pause. Symptoms may be present for years (or even decades) without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.

Most people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member and/or bed partner may first notice the signs of sleep apnea.

Untreated sleep apnea can:

• Increase the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, obesity, and diabetes

• Increase the risk for or worsen heart failure

• Make irregular heartbeats more likely

• Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents

Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, surgery, and/or breathing devices can successfully treat sleep apnea in many people.

A dentist specializing in sleep disorders can prescribe Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). The oral appliance is a custom made mouthpiece that shifts the lower jaw forward which opens up the airway. OAT is usually successful in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. OAT is a relatively new treatment option for sleep apnea.

Some people who have sleep apnea may benefit from surgery. The type of surgery and how well it works depend on the cause of the sleep apnea.

Surgery is done to widen breathing passages. It usually involves removing, shrinking, or stiffening excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw.

For more information please visit www.aesthetika.net, or schedule a courtesy consultation by calling Aesthetika Dental Center at 415 986-1616.

Information provided by: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute