The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Dentistry

In the United States alone, sleep apnea impacts over 18 million adults, as well as one in five children who habitually snore. Sleep apnea is potentially dangerous when left untreated, but risk factors and predisposing symptoms can be easily identified in various clinical settings, including dental practices.

How Does Sleep Apnea Work?

Depending on the cause of the disorder, sleep apnea can affect people in different ways. For example, central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to signal the respiratory muscles to continue breathing. More commonly, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the throat muscles intermittently relax and block a person’s airway when they sleep. A noticeable sign of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Complex sleep apnea combines obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.No matter the cause, the outcome is always the same. A lack of breathing sets off the brain’s alarm bells, enabling the person to wake up and take a breath. This process happens so quickly that most people with sleep apnea never recall waking up, even if they wake up dozens of times throughout the night. These sleep interruptions prevent people from getting a full night’s rest, leaving them with symptoms like exhaustion, morning headaches, and difficulty concentrating.

What Does Sleep Apnea Have to Do with Teeth?

In addition to the short-term effects of sleep deprivation, people with OSA tend to be more likely to have periodontitis and issues in their jaw joints. In fact, studies have shown that the jaw often clenches during a sleep apnea episode as an attempt to keep the airways open. This excessive strain on the jaw can often cause temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). These disorders can have symptoms such as pain when chewing, chronic headaches, damage to the teeth, and neck and shoulder pain.

Dental Professionals Can Help

Due to the negative dental health effects of sleep apnea, dentists are often the first to recognize the signs of the disorder and diagnose it. This is just one of many reasons why regular dental appointments are so important - not just for oral health but overall health as well.The standard treatment for OSA is currently CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). For patients who cannot tolerate CPAP, dental professionals can implement oral appliances to reposition the tongue and lower jaw during sleep to maintain an open airway. Typically, these appliances are recommended for mild to moderate OSA patients.

Healthier Sleep Leads to Healthier Smiles!

Getting a full night’s sleep is essential if we want to feel great and have enough energy to go about our days. If you believe you or a loved one are missing out on sleep due to sleep apnea, your next appointment with a Colorado Springs dentist at Esthetic Family Dentistry could be life-changing. To learn more about what we can do for you, call us today!