Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment in Mississauga
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, sleep apnea occurs when people stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night. This stoppage in breathing can last for as long as 60 seconds. When the brain realizes that it needs air, it sends panic signals to the body to wake up. These constant arousals result in fragmented sleep that robs your body of the rest it needs to function properly during the day.
What is Snoring?
Snoring is the result of your airway narrowing, causing air to be inhaled at an increased speed and pressure. This makes the tissue in the back of your throat vibrate and produces the snoring sound. Airway blockage may be caused by excess tissue in the throat, large tonsils, a large tongue, and sometimes the structure of the jaw itself. Heavy, loud snoring can be a sign of a more serious health problem called Sleep Apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder in which your breathing stops repeatedly while you sleep. These breathing stops are called “apneas.” When your breathing stops due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), your brain will automatically arouse you enough to start breathing again. These constant arousals result in fragmented sleep that robs your body of the rest it needs to function properly during the day.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is classified as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the numbers of stops (apneas) or slow breathing (hypopnea) per hour.
A Hypopnea is a decrease in airflow, whereas an Apnea is the cessation of airflow during sleep for at least ten seconds or longer, and this may happen hundreds of times a night. Apnea / Hypopnea Index (AHI) is a measurement of the number of apneas plus the number of hypopneas per sleep hour.
Signs & Symptoms of Sleep Disorders, Including Snoring & OSA
- Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
- Choking or stopping breathing during sleep
- Dry Mouth/Throat in Morning
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Fatigue
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Heavy, loud snoring
- High blood pressure
- Impotence
- Insomnia (Inability to Fall Asleep)
- Lack of concentration
- Limbs jerk during sleep / leg cramping
- Morning headaches
- Mood, Memory, or Learning Problems
- Night Sweats
- Waking up tired or thirsty
- Witnessed Apneas
- Waking throughout the night
Consequences of Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Impaired Cognitive Function
- Increased likelihood of Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Daytime Sleepiness & Fatigue
- Impaired Quality of Life
- Increased Healthcare Costs
- Increased Mortality Rates
- Erectile & Sexual Dysfunction
- Poor Performance
- Marital Discord
- Gastric Reflux
- ADD / ADHD
Medical Dangers of Sleep Apnea
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
How We Can Help
Dr. Šarić is a trained member of the Canadian Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines (CACSDD) and is trained to screen and evaluate patients for sleep apnea through questionnaires and comprehensive examination of the head, neck, facial area and supporting structures.
Our Comprehensive Examination Involves:
- Checking the upper airway for obstruction, including nose and throat
- A TMJ disorder evaluation to establish the ideal jaw position
- Necessary X-rays
- Diagnostic models
- At-home sleep study
Diagnosing Your Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is diagnosed through an overnight sleep study, known as a polysomnograph.
At Smile Design, we offer at-home sleep testing for patients who have not yet visited a sleep clinic or to test the effectiveness of treatment. Using the same technology found in sleep laboratories, the Braebon MediByte Jr. ® is a small recording device we use to help detect Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
There are many advantages to taking the at-home sleep test including convenience, especially for patients with disabilities, and comfort of sleeping in your own bed.
Treatment Options
Dental Sleep Medicine is the management of Sleep Disorders with Oral Appliances, Dental Orthopedics, and Surgery as part of a medical-dental collaborative team.
Oral Appliance Therapy is the least invasive method of preserving the airway during sleep and treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A custom made and fitted Oral Appliance works by repositioning your tongue and lower jaw forward during sleep to maintain an open airway. This prevents the airway from collapsing by creating extra airway space.
Oral Appliances are non-restrictive in movement and non-claustrophobic. When given an option, many patients prefer the Oral Appliance Therapy for its comfort, convenience, and effectiveness.
Most patients find that it only takes a few nights to become accustomed to wearing an appliance.
Other Current Treatment Options
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP Therapy)
CPAP therapy is pressurized room air delivered to splint the airway open – this requires you to wear a mask or nasal prongs over the nose and/or mouth, which are connected to an air pump. CPAP is the standard of OSA treatment. Many OSA patients cannot tolerate wearing the CPAP throughout the night as they find it to be awkward, inconvenient, or claustrophobic.
Common CPAP Complaints
- Inconvenient
- Nasal dryness or stuffiness
- Mask fit, discomfort
- Social Stigma, bedroom embarrassment
- Claustrophobia
- Inability to exhale against pressure
- Eye irritation from mask leaks
- Skin Irritation
- Facial marks from pressure points
- Restricts movement
- Disturbs sleep
- Machine noise
- Rhinitis
- Acne
- Ear Pain
- Power Supply Required
Surgery
Surgery is usually only recommended when all other options fail. Depending on your conditions, a specialist may find it necessary to surgically advance your jaw or remove excess throat tissues. A major drawback to surgery is it invasiveness, once it has been performed, its results cannot be reversed.