DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE
WHY CHECK SLEEP QUALITY ?
Dental sleep medicine is an emerging practice that strives to improve the quality of sleep. A modern lifestyle puts new stresses on our bodies, and this stress results in physiological changes that can significantly reduce the nightly quality of sleep that we get. Approximately 10% of the population have significant medical issues that are a result from poor sleep. Dr. Mitesh Jivan routinely screens for sleep related issues, to ensure problems are caught early.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Signs someone is suffering from OSA include a wide range of symptoms, some that are not always obvious. Most commonly, people who snore loudly at night are often afflicted with sleep apnea. Tissue in the back of the throat collapses while the person is breathing, thus blocking the airway and causing the audible result. While snoring certainly is loud and a nuisance, what’s actually happening inside of the airways is decreasing oxygen intake that is supplied to organs like the heart and brain which can lead to many severe medical issues such as heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, insomnia, depression and impotence. When a person’s body reaches low blood-oxygen levels they are often awoken, sometimes hundreds of times in a single night. Not only is this dangerous internally, but those who suffer from OSA are typically left feeling lethargic and sleep deprived which can affect their professional and personal lives both physically and psychologically.
REDUCE SNORING
Did you know 25% of couples sleep in separate beds due to snoring? Snoring is not only bothersome, but can lead to more dangerous conditions like sleep apnea. When tissue in your airway vibrate, they producing sounds we call snoring. By opening the airway and creating more separation between the tissues, snoring is reduced. One of the more elegant ways of opening the airway is by utilizing an oral appliance that mimics a retainer.
REGENERATIVE SLEEP
Sleep is a critical part our of being. Sleep restores and rejuvenates every part of our body. Deep cycles of sleep allows muscles to rebuild, blood vessels to relax, and the brain to solidify and strengthen neural connections.
As we age it is important to realize that quality sleep is still possible. Poor quality sleep is not purely a function of aging, and that means there is room for improving your quality of life.
SCREENING
Due to the nature of OSA, dentists often are the first to become aware of a patient’s suffering when symptoms like dry mouth, scalloped tongues, and swollen tonsils. These signs frequently lead to more advanced decay and discomfort. Working in conjunction with sleep physicians, Dr. Mitesh Jivan, who is trained in dental sleep medicine, can provide care to effectively treat OSA in order to improve the lives of those who may not realize how grave their symptoms really are.
CPAP INTOLERANCE
Frequently treatment of sleep apnea requires a mask connected to a pump for force air into your lungs. Though effective, many people find it impossible to get used to wearing it through the night. Common complaints are feeling claustrophobic, uncomfortable with pressure of something on the face/nose, air leaking from the mouth, and complicated setup of pumps and disposables.
It’s important to not lose hope, because there are alternatives to the CPAP machine that work.
CPAP ALTERNATIVE
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is an effective treatment for sleep apnea and it is very similar to wearing a sports mouth guard at night during sleep. The custom-fit night guard is made with impressions of the teeth. The appliance is made in such a way that it helps keep the airway open and unrestricted. There are several different styles available that are available and they are almost always covered by insurance. Wearing the appliance along with making some behavioral changes such as altering sleep position, weight loss, and quitting smoking could significantly improve sleep apnea in many patients.
Did you know 25% of couples sleep
in separate beds due to snoring?
SLEEP APNEA
It’s hard to imagine that for some, a full night’s sleep is almost nothing but a dream. What’s really alarming is that more than 18 million American’s suffer from symptoms caused by poor sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious and sometimes fatally life-threatening disorder caused by a series of episodes where a person stops breathing from 10 seconds to over a minute while sleeping.