Houston Dentist Patient Services

Sleep Apnea

The Facts about Sleep Apnea
In Greek, apnea literally means "without breath." Sleep apnea presents itself in three forms, central, obstructive, and mixed, but the most common type is obstructive. All three types can be defined by not breathing well enough or regularly enough to keep blood-oxygen saturation at normal levels. This hiccup in breathing can happen again and again, sometimes hundreds of times in a single hour. And every time, your brain says, "Wake up and breathe!" The result? You don't sleep soundly, which can cause a host of problems, including fatigue, inability to focus, grumpiness, forgetfulness, and other more serious conditions, like high blood pressure, acid reflux, stroke, weight gain, impotency, and headaches.

Types of Sleep Apnea
If your brain neglects to tell your body to breathe while you're asleep, you have central sleep apnea. If structures in your mouth and throat get in the way of airflow while you're snoozing, obstructive sleep apnea is the issue. If you seem to have both of these problems, you suffer from mixed sleep apnea.

Who Is Prone to Sleep Apnea?
About one in four adults have sleep apnea, and the older you get, the more prone you will be to this sleep disorder. Statistically, people who are male, overweight, have diabetes, or have high blood pressure are more prone to the condition. About 40% of people who snore are sleep apnea sufferers.

How Can a Dentist Help Me?
First, you need to be diagnosed at a sleep center, where you'll have a polysomnogram. Plan on sleeping over! The test will record your brain waves, breathing pattern, motions, blood-oxygen saturation, and heart rate. The polysomnogram is painless and doesn't require injections. We'll use all this information to find out whether you have sleep apnea, and if so, how severe it is.

Then we can help you.

We may suggest a CPAP, which is a continuous positive airway pressure device, to keep you breathing normally and sleeping soundly through the night. Many folks, about 60%, don't like the CPAP. Another option is a simple oral appliance that you slip into your mouth at bedtime. The appliance slightly pushes your lower jaw forward to create a better airflow path while you sleep.

Good Night
You deserve to sleep soundly, every night. With a CPAP or oral appliance, Dr. Frazar can help you get the rest you deserve without pain or surgery. Call our dental office in Houston today for a consultation, and start enjoying a better life tomorrow!

Do you have sleep apnea?

Six questions for sleep apnea

These questions can help you and your physician figure out if you should be tested for sleep apnea. Circle your answers, tally up the points next to them, and see what the total means in the Scoring section.

Do you snore more than three nights a week? Yes (2 points) No (0 points)
Is your snoring loud (can it be heard through a door or wall)? Yes (2 points) No (0 points)
Has anyone ever told you that you briefly stop breathing or gasp when you are asleep? Never (0 points) Occasionally (3 points) Frequently (5 points)
What is your collar size? Men: less than 17 inches (0 points) 17 inches or greater (5 points) Women: less than 16 inches (0 points) 16 inches or greater (5 points)
Have you had high blood pressure, or are you being treated for it? Yes (2 points) No (0 points)
Do you ever doze or fall asleep during the day when: You are not busy or active? Yes (2 points) No (0 points) You are driving or stopped at a light? Yes (2 points) No (0 points)

Scoring

9 points or more: You are a good candidate for a sleep study.
6–8 points: It's uncertain whether you have sleep apnea; you and your doctor should decide the next step based on other pieces of your medical history.
5 points or fewer: Low probability of sleep apnea.

Tips for using a continuous positive airway pressure machine

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or other breathing device takes some time to get used to. Some people stop using the machine because of pressure sores, nasal congestion, air leakage, and a feeling of claustrophobia. Coaching from a sleep expert may help. Here are some tips on making the device easier to use:

Obtain the device from a sleep specialist, who can provide detailed instruction at the outset and follow-up coaching.
Expect an overnight stay at the doctor’s office or at a sleep lab, so that air pressure can be adjusted to ensure best results.
If the mask irritates the skin, ask about special moisturizers for CPAP users. (Petroleum-based products may damage the mask.)
If the mask irritates the nose, ask about nasal pillows, which fit into the nostrils. These take pressure off the bridge of the nose.
If nasal congestion develops, ask whether nasal sprays or surgery might correct it.
Some people breathe through their mouths at night; they will do better with a full-face mask to cover both nose and mouth.
A chin strap can help keep the jaw closed, so that the mask does not leak air.
If breathing against the force of the air pressure is too difficult, look into a bilevel device, which lowers the air pressure during exhalation.
Build up slowly. Most people can’t wear the mask all night long at first. Wearing it for a few hours first, then gradually increasing the time with it, may help.

Do you get enough sleep?

Take the Sleep Test

Dental Appliance that can stop Sleep Anea!

Read the Article

back to dental services in Houston, TX