If you suffer from poor sleep, find yourself tired throughout the day, have difficulty breathing while sleeping, have been told that you snore, or have enlarged tonsils, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be the cause. Sleep Apnea is quite common, and Pathways Dental Clinic can help. At Pathways Dental Clinic, we offer oral sleep apnea therapy that can help you deal with it, and ensure you get a good night’s sleep!
What Is Sleep Apnea?
It is a common but serious sleep disorder that involves repeated breathing interruptions during sleep, and it presents a danger in the form of oxygen depreciation. These interruptions can occur hundreds of times each night and may result in brain malfunctions or the muscles at the back of the throat failing to keep the airway open.
During normal breathing, air passes through the nose, past the flexible structures in the back of the throat, including the soft palate, uvula, and tongue. When a person is awake, the muscles hold this airway open. When they are asleep, these muscles relax, and the airway usually stays open.
NE Calgary sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat aren’t able to keep the upper airway and airflow open. This causes the oxygen levels to drop in both the brain and the blood, and it can have serious health consequences if not dealt with.
Complications of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Scientific studies have shown a correlation between untreated sleep apnea and cardiovascular problems/heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, sexual dysfunction, learning/memory problems, and an increased risk of cancer due to reduced levels of oxygen (hypoxia) from the sleep apnea.
Oral Sleep Appliances
As dentists, we often see the associated physical symptoms of sleep apnea, like wear on teeth from clenching and grinding, as well as the effects on the tissue in the mouth. Although continuous positive airway (CPAP) pressure therapy is the most recommended treatment for patients with sleep apnea in NE Calgary, compliance levels are quite low. This is because the CPAP machine can be cumbersome to travel with bulky, noisy, and uncomfortable to wear. At Pathways NE Calgary Dental Clinic, we offer an alternative in the form of a custom night guard. Since some types of it are a result of jaw positioning, wearing a custom-fitted oral appliance night guard can reposition the jaw by bringing it forward, which opens the airway and increases oxygen intake during sleep. You can breathe easy without masks, hoses, or forced air.
Sleep Apnea Testing
An at-home sleep test will allow the dentists at Pathways Dental Clinic, along with a certified sleep medicine physician, to determine the severity of your disease and determine if oral appliance therapy can be used to help treat your sleep apnea.
In some cases, if you already use a CPAP appliance, our dentists may need to work in conjunction with your pulmonologist. Dr. Kim and Dr. Bouma work closely with your NE Calgary sleep apnea specialist to prescribe the most suitable treatments for your oral health and lifestyle.
Improve Your Quality of Rest
Getting enough quality sleep is vital to your overall health. Dealing with sleep apnea is an important aspect of your oral health you may not have considered before, or it might be a condition you weren’t aware you ever had. Start getting a better night’s sleep today so you can smile more!
If you or your partner currently struggle with or suspect that you have sleep apnea, we invite you to call our Calgary dental clinic today to schedule a new patient consultation. A NE Calgary general dentist provides all treatment. For more complex cases, we may refer our patients to a specialist for treatment. Schedule your visit today to see your dentists and dental hygienists at Pathways Dental Clinic.
Pathways Dental Clinic Online Reviews
Sharayah Dillon
I have always felt uncomfortable with dentists, and have always had a bad time with the freezing portion of the treatment. Dr. Kim and his dental assistant today were fantastic and very well spoken. They kept checking to make sure I was okay and that I was comfortable! I also like that they explained everything they were doing as they were doing it, that definitely put me more at ease. THANK YOU PATHWAYS DENTAL!!
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