About Sleep Apnea

What Is Sleep Apnea?

“Sleep apnea is where the body stops breathing for a period of time or the soft tissue in the throat relaxes too much and limits the air flow to the body. This happens several times in an hour throughout the night, and it literally chokes the body from oxygen.”

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Oral Appliance Therapy

Do you struggle with poor sleep? Are you facing difficulty in breathing while sleeping or snoring loudly at night?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be to blame. OSA is a breathing disorder that’s related to your sleep quality. It induces difficulty in breathing with an impaired airflow even when you actively try to breathe. When you are asleep, your muscles relax, which causes the soft tissue in the back of the throat to block the airflow.

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What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

In Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you may stop breathing at night when sleeping. The breathing gaps can range from a few seconds of even a minute at any given time. Sudden reductions in blood oxygen can also occur ranging from 0 to 40 percent.

The condition of sleep apnea has many symptoms, such as memory issues, irritability, snoring, fatigue, insomnia, and excessive sleepiness in the daytime. Sleep apnea can be a life-threatening medical condition if not attended to promptly.

At this time, the brain gives signals and alerts the body to wake up. Once you wake up, normal breathing resumes. Sleep quality deteriorates and causes excessive snoring along with other related symptoms.

Sleep dentists measure this condition with the Apnea-Hypopnea index (AHI). It represents the total number of apneas and hypopneas that happens every hour of sleep.

What are the Different Types of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea has different levels that can affect people. Here are the key types of sleep apnea:

Mild OSA

In Mild OSA, AHI levels are in the range of 5-15. A person affected with mild OSA may experience involuntary sleepiness in everyday activities such as reading or watching tv that doesn’t require serious attention.

Moderate OSA

The AHI readings for a person having a medium OSA range from 15-30. Typical symptoms include involuntary sleepiness in activities needing a fair amount of attention such as office work like giving presentations or participating in a meeting

Severe OSA

If a person has severe OSA, their AHI readings are more than 30. They have involuntary sleepiness in activities requiring active and sustained periods of attention, such as driving a car or talking to another person.

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What is the Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Though OSA occurs in all age groups, it occurs most frequently in persons who are of middle to older age groups. Here are some key statistics:

  • Approximately 24 percent of men and nine percent of women have OSA symptoms that can occur with or without daytime sleepiness
  • OSA, including daytime sleepiness symptoms, occurs in two percent of women and about four percent of men
  • OSA also affects two percent of children and is most common in preschoolers
  • 80 percent to 90 percent of adults affected with OSA remain undiagnosed

What are the High-Risk Groups for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Here are the high-risk groups of people that may get affected with OSA:

  • Persons who are overweight (having a Body Mass Index of more than 25)
  • Persons who are obese (having a Body Mass Index of more than 30)
  • Persons having a large neck size – more than 17 inches for men and more than 16 inches for women
  • Post-menopausal women
  • Middle-aged or older men
  • Ethnic Minorities
  • Persons having Down Syndrome (adults and children)
  • Persons having soft tissue and bone structure abnormalities in the neck and head
  • Children having adenoids and large tonsils
  • Persons with a family member having OSA
  • Persons who smoke
  • Persons having endocrine conditions such as Hypothyroidism and Acromegaly
  • Persons suffering from nocturnal nasal congestion resulting from rhinitis, abnormal morphology, or both conditions

What are the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Here is a listing of symptoms that persons affected with ​ Obstructive Sleep Apnea

  • Increased risk of stroke
  • Increased probability of death as a result of heart disease
  • Increased chances of being in a motor vehicle accident
  • Impaired concentration when doing any activity
  • Increased heart rate
  • Fluctuating levels of oxygen
  • Chronic elevation of blood pressure during the day
  • Impaired insulin resistance in the body and glucose intolerance
  • Excessive mood swings
  • Disturbing partner’s sleep

What are the Different Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Diagnosing OSA is vital. An asleep study chart called Polysomnogram or overnight sleep study is done to analyze the body’s vital signs of heartbeat, breathing, and brain waves. There are four critical methodologies to treat OSA:

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

CPAP is the chosen treatment method for persons having moderate to severe OSA. Introduced in 1981, it helps to provide a pressurized airflow to patients using a mask that’s worn while sleeping. It helps restore normal breathing and avoids any obstruction in oxygen and airflow. Comfort levels can be increased using a connected heated humidifier. THE latest CPAP models are smartly designed to be easy to use and almost silent.

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

OAT is a preferred treatment option for persons having mild to moderate OSA who prefer not using the CPAP method. Oral appliances help maintain a clear airway by stabilizing the lower jaw, uvula, tongue, and soft palate. These devices typically look like sports mouth guards and are designed for treating sleep apnea and snoring.

Surgery

Surgery is typically chosen as a treatment option when CPAP or OAT will not work. When these non-invasive treatments don’t work, surgery is used to address the OSA issues. Any anatomic deformity can also be corrected by surgery by removing tissues from the tongue, uvula, adenoids, tonsils, or the soft palate. Complex surgery may also be performed to correct craniofacial bone structures. A common surgery is the Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) that trims the soft palate or removes tonsils or the uvula. For children, Adenotonsillectomy is preferred to remove adenoids and tonsils.

Behavioral Changes

For mild OSA cases, weight loss and sleeping on the side can bring some positive results. Over the Counter RemediesFew over the counter remedies are proven options for treating OSA. Though internal nasal dilators, lubricant sprays, or external nasal dilator strips may help to reduce snoring, proven medical evidence for their veracity against OSA does not exist.

Position Therapy

To treat mild OSA, patients are advised to raise the head of the bed and not sleep on their back. Doing these changes is part of the Position therapy that helps reduce symptoms.

Why Choose Newman Family Dentistry/ Newman Dental Sleep Medicine for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Improve your quality of life and sleep when you choose to take action against OSA. Regain control over your life by being committed to your OSA treatment. Newman Dental Sleep Medicine has experienced sleep dentists who can provide custom-fit solutions for OSA that suit your life and situation. It’s time to improve your sleep and transform your health.

Have questions about Sleep apnea? Make an appointment today and find out if you do have OSA. Get started on the path to treatment by contacting Newman Dental Sleep Medicine at (317) 660-2200. We are happy to answer your questions about obstructive sleep apnea, appliance therapy, and dental sleep medicine.

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    “I have been so happy with every visit with Dr Marc Newman! He is super nicer and very informative.

    Before coming to Dr Marc and getting my new dental appliance, I did not sleep well and woke up with a headache every morning! I had such low energy during the day from my lack of sleep.

    From the very first night of wearing my appliance I have slept so much better. I have not had a single headache and I now have so much energy!!!

    I have been so happy with my appliance that I have already recommended Dr Marc to a few people and will be having my husband visit soon!

    Thank you again Dr Marc for all you have done for me!”

    Lorrie T., Sleep Apnea Patient