In the United States, somewhere between 15-30% of men and 10-15% of women aged 30-70 have sleep apnea. Many of those people just think they snore, and don’t know they have a serious health condition.
You may be wondering why Century City Smiles & Orthodontics is writing about sleep apnea. In some cases, the best treatment for sleep apnea is with a dental appliance or orthognathic surgery (sometimes called surgical orthodontics). If you’ve heard from others that you snore, you may want to schedule an appointment to talk to Dr. Shawn Saidian or Dr. Tania Ohebsion about the connection between dental health and sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms and risks
When you have OSA, your airway closes off while you’re asleep, so that you can’t breathe. You may partially or fully awaken, usually several times per night. Some common symptoms include:
- Irregular snoring
- Choking in your sleep
- Gasping for air
- Feeling excessively sleepy during the day
- Waking with a headache
- Having a very dry mouth when you wake up
One of the reasons it can be difficult to know if you have sleep apnea is that all of those symptoms are common in other conditions as well as in sleep apnea. For example, if you grind your teeth during your sleep (bruxism), you might wake up with a headache.
You’re more likely to develop OSA if you have certain risk factors. You have a higher risk of OSA if you:
- Are overweight/obese
- Have a large tongue
- Have a high-arched palate
- Are male
- Have a large neck circumference
- Have big tonsils
- Drink alcohol
- Have a problem like chronic nasal inflammation or allergies
The OSA-dental connection
Dentists and orthodontists aren’t the only professionals who treat sleep apnea, but you should have one as part of your care team. Regularly having a comprehensive oral exam, a thorough evaluation of your oral anatomy, and other considerations are essential in ensuring your OSA treatment is the most effective for your particular situation.
An oral exam by a provider who has specific training in craniofacial anatomy and can identify potentially problematic abnormalities is crucial. A large tongue, a jaw that is too far back, enlarged tonsils, and other features of your anatomy can contribute to OSA.
Sometimes, such problems can be corrected through surgical orthodontics. If Dr. Saidian or Dr. Ohebsion thinks you’d benefit from a surgical procedure to treat OSA, they will consult with you and the rest of your care team.
The risks of untreated OSA
OSA is a serious, even life-threatening condition. Some of the associated risks include:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Daytime drowsiness
- Greater risk of car accidents
- A weaker immune system
- Depression
- A shorter lifespan
Excellent health requires enough high-quality sleep, and that’s impossible if you wake up continually because you can’t breathe. If you have been diagnosed with OSA or you suspect you have it, schedule an appointment at Century City Smiles & Orthodontics for a complete evaluation.