If you deal with loud snoring, wake up gasping for air, or feel perpetually tired even after a full night’s rest, you may unknowingly live with sleep apnea — a sleep-related breathing disorder in which breathing stops and starts intermittently, preventing a restful sleep. Sleep apnea may not initially seem like a dental concern, but the condition is linked to the oro-facial tissues and can result in serious health issues. At our family dental practice, Dr. Nadine — our skilled Orlando dentist — and our team care about enhancing your entire well-being as much as your smile. We offer non-invasive treatment for sleep apnea that can relax the throat tissues blocking your airway, effectively reducing sleep apnea symptoms and improving the quality of your sleep.

Signs of Sleep Apnea

Many sleep apnea patients are unaware they’re affected by the condition. If your partner or loved one has alerted you to your loud snoring and/or pauses in breathing, this can be a strong indication that a sleep study should be conducted to accurately diagnose your sleep apnea. Common signs of the disorder include:

Loud or frequent snoring
Pauses in breathing while asleep
Waking up suddenly gasping for breath
Frequent urination throughout the night
Headaches throughout the day
Constant tiredness, lack of mental clarity, or reduced focus
Depression, irritability, and mood swings
Insomnia

Dr. Nadine encourages you to speak with our team about your symptoms if you feel there is a possibility that sleep apnea may affect you or your partner. Without treatment, sleep apnea can contribute to heart disease, mood problems, cognitive issues, and other far-reaching effects on your health and well-being.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is very common and frequently goes undiagnosed. Our team at Maple Dentistry Orlando understands the difficulty of living with disruptive sleep apnea symptoms and we would be happy to improve your health and overall well-being with effective solutions. The condition is usually categorized into two different types based on the mechanisms causing an interrupted sleep pattern:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. This variation of the condition is caused by the throat tissues blocking or constricting the airway. As a result, patients can stop breathing while asleep and wake up just long enough to begin breathing again.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Central sleep apnea is found less commonly and involves disruptions in communication between the brain and throat muscles. Like OSA, this can result in pauses in breathing while sleeping.

This condition most frequently affects men, and alcohol consumption, lifestyle habits, and BMI are all risk factors for sleep apnea. While weight loss and a healthier lifestyle may be able to improve sleep apnea without treatment, a custom oral device may be required to widen the passageway in the throat and promote airflow.

“I always feel like my dental needs are met by the team, the personalized service is greatly appreciated. I am very grateful for the personal attention that I have received for all the yard I have had with this dental group!!”

- Chris C. -

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)

Common in young female patients who also suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)
Most commonly, people will experience multiple arousals at night, leading to fragmented and/or disrupted sleep

RERA’s – Respiratory Effort Related Arousals

Respiratory effort to breathe again
Does not quality as an apnea
Found in young (progesterone), fit females (3:1 to males)
Anxiety
Exhaustion/fatigue
Light sleeper, clenching, waking up at 1 am, 3 am, etc.

Custom Oral Appliances: Non-Invasive Sleep Apnea Treatment

Although CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is often used to treat sleep apnea, the machine is not very travel-friendly and studies show that patients frequently fall into non-compliance with the device. A custom, FDA-approved sleep apnea oral appliance from our Orlando practice can be very successful in treating sleep apnea and reducing symptoms caused by disrupted sleep.

A custom oral appliance treats sleep apnea by gently repositioning the lower jaw and tongue to keep the airway open while asleep. This prevents the airway from collapsing, which is a common cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The device is tailored to fit each patient’s mouth comfortably and is worn like a mouthguard at night. Unlike a generic one-size-fits-all mouthguard, these oral appliances are custom-fabricated to accommodate your bite, giving you a perfect fit. It’s important to use a device that’s FDA-approved and made by a dentist, as drug-store mouthguards and “boil and bite” appliances are not typically successful. By improving airflow, your oral appliance can reduce snoring and sleep interruptions, leading to better rest and overall health.

Discussing your sleep apnea symptoms with our team can be the difference between disruptive, inconsistent sleep and a healthier, more peaceful night’s rest. Contact Maple Dentistry Orlando today to learn more about optimizing wellness through dentistry, or to book an appointment.