What Are the Causes of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a fairly common medical condition that affects millions of Americans every day and, in some cases, can have life-threatening side effects. To get the right kind of help for your apnea, it first helps to understand the causes of this sleep condition, what the different causes mean for treatment, and how you may be able to find treatment as easily as going to your local dentist and having them prescribe you the right kind of dental appliance. 

What is sleep apnea?

Before we talk about the causes, we first would like to describe what the condition is and how it affects people as they try to sleep. 

As the name suggests, this condition is a sleep disorder. Unlike other disorders that cause people to behave in certain ways, such as night terrors, sleepwalking, or sleep talking, this condition affects how a person respirates while sleeping. Without enough oxygen, a person can suffer severe side effects and consequences. Depending on the specific type of apnea, the reason for the disruption in breathing changes, and that also changes how the condition is treated. 

Types of apnea disorders

There are currently three types of apnea disorders that a person can suffer from. To understand the proper treatment, it is necessary to know what type you have and how it affects the body. 

Obstructive apnea

Obstructive is the most common type of apnea and the one that most people with the condition suffer from. In the case of obstructive apnea, the airway becomes closed off due to the position of the jaw and throat while a person attempts to sleep. The body is sometimes unable to remove this obstruction and get normal airflow, which leads to apnea symptoms like sleep deprivation, migraines, brain fog, and other symptoms. 

This type of condition can be treated by several means, including forcing air into the patient and realigning the airway for improved airflow. 

Central apnea

Central apnea is a brain disorder in which a signal from the brain that tells the body to breathe intermittently interrupts. When this happens, a person quite literally forgets to stop breathing. Because of the nature of this apnea, the only treatment is using a sleep machine that forces air into the patient’s body, keeping their body oxygenated. 

Complex apnea

Complex apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central apnea. The patient may stop breathing due to airway obstruction and may also have trouble with brain signals, causing them to stop breathing intermittently. In most cases, a breathing machine is also used to treat this form of apnea. 

How a dentist can help with obstructive sleep apnea

If you have obstructive apnea, which, as we said, is the most common form of the condition, there is a good chance that you can avoid the sleep clinics and the bulky breathing machines and instead head straight to the dentist. 

If you have already been diagnosed with obstructive apnea, the dentist can prescribe you a custom-made mouthguard to wear while you sleep. The purpose of this mouthguard is to move the jaw forward, thereby repositioning the throat to relieve the obstruction and provide better airflow. While it will not completely cure the apnea, it can vastly reduce episodes and symptoms. 

While getting treatment at a sleep clinic or from a sleep specialist is possible, those options lead to a sleep machine worn while a person sleeps. Many patients find this option too invasive and restrictive, with not enough benefits to warrant the inconvenience. For this reason, most patients prefer the mouth guard option provided by their dentist. 

Understanding more about sleep apnea

As you can see, this type of sleep disorder is a serious condition that can affect a person’s quality of life and may even cause serious side effects and symptoms. If you have an obstructive form of apnea, it is possible to get some relief from your local dentist thanks to a specially-made mouthguard. The other option is to use a sleep machine that attaches to the face, and forces air into the body. The benefits for each option are about the same as patients will experience a reduction in symptoms and improved quality of sleep from both a mouthguard and a sleep machine. 

Because of how easy it is to sleep with a mouthguard compared to a sleep machine, most patients prefer the mouthguard option. If this sounds like the right option for you, visit your dentist today and ask about a mouthguard for sleep disorders. 

Request an appointment here: https://www.southfloridadentalarts.com or call South Florida Dental Arts at (305) 230-4041 for an appointment in our Miami office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Do I Have Sleep Apnea in Miami, FL.

Recent Posts

Some Dentists Offer Sleep Medicine Treatment For Sleep Apnea

Dental sleep medicine treatment focuses on treating sleep apnea and other related conditions. More dentists are choosing to practice in this line of work because there are actually a lot of good dental sleep apnea treatments available to patients. Modern-day dentistry has evolved quite a bit, which has allowed for the evaluation of all kinds…

3 CPAP Alternatives For Sleep Apnea

Are you looking for CPAP alternatives to treat your sleep apnea? Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition that impacts millions of individuals all across the globe. Due to this condition, the patient’s airway closes while they are asleep. This can lead to symptoms like difficulty staying asleep throughout the night, snoring, morning headaches, and…

Dental Oral Appliance Therapy For Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Oral appliance therapy is ideal for people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This dental device keeps the airway open during slumber at night. It prevents sudden and short breathing cessation that lasts for 1-2 seconds or longer. Severe cases can cause serious health issues such as hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Keep…

When To Visit A Dentist For Sleep Apnea

Seeking treatment for sleep apnea is important for your general health. Your general dentist can detect signs of this sleep disorder during a comprehensive dental exam. The sleep doctor can work with your dentist to correct the problem. Here are the details about when to see a dentist for sleep apnea.This sleep disorder makes a…

South Florida Dental Arts

Share
Published by
South Florida Dental Arts

Recent Posts

When to Consider Getting Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are caps that cover and replace natural tooth structures to restore their shape,…

15 hours ago

Signs You May Need a Dental Crown

Your dentist can help determine if you need dental crowns. There are many reasons for…

1 week ago

Some Dentists Offer Sleep Medicine Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which one stops breathing on and off throughout…

1 week ago

How Dental Crowns Can Fix Cracked Teeth

Dental crowns are a reliable and effective tool for restoring damaged teeth. While most people…

2 weeks ago

An Estimated Timeline for a Smile Makeover Treatment

A smile makeover is any treatment that improves the appearance — and sometimes the function…

3 weeks ago

How to Care For Your New Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are a valuable investment in your oral health and smile's appearance. Whether you…

3 weeks ago