|
 Sleep apnea is a multifactorial sleep disorder that is gaining greater recognition among physicians and the lay public. Stedman's Medical Dictionary defines apnea as the absence of breathing or the want of breath. Sleep apnea is defined as 30 or more apneic episodes(the cessation of airflow at the mouth or nose for more than 10 seconds) occurring during seven hours of nocturnal sleep.
Apnea severity is usually categorized by the frequency of apnea episodes:
These episodes can last anywhere between 10 to 120 seconds each, terminating with at least a partial wakening. Typically, a patient may have as many as 300 apneic episodes per night.
There are three basic classifications of sleep apnea:
- Central Sleep Apnea
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Mixed Apnea
Because the etiology of obstructive sleep apnea is multifactorial and the treatment options are varied, proper diagnosis and treatment are best handled by a team approach. Members of the team may include a Sleep Specialist, an Internist, an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist, and a General Dentist who has specialty training in oral sleep appliances. A definitive diagnosis can only be accomplished by a sleep test called a Polosomnogram.
Most people with sleep apnea benefit from both general measures and specific treatments:
- Lose excess weight
- Get regular exercise
- Avoid alcohol, heavy meals and medication that make you drowsy
When these measures are more severe, and these measures don't solve the problem, other treatment options include:
- Dental Appliance Therapy
- Nasal CPAP (continuous, positive airway pressure)
- Surgery
| In recent clinical studies, physicians and dentists have found that in the majority of patients, a well made, fitted dental appliance will effectively reduce or eliminate snoring and apnea. |
 |
<Back to Sleep Apnea and Snoring Index>
<top of page>
|
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
