Sleep apnea (from the Greek for “without breath”) is a potentially life-threatening disorder in which breathing stops repeatedly during sleep, for seconds to minutes, as often as 30 or more times an hour. Carbon dioxide builds up and oxygen drops, so the brain partly wakes you to restart breathing, often with loud snoring or choking. Because you don’t fully wake, many people never know they have it.
Two types
- Central sleep apnea: the brain doesn’t send the right signals to the breathing muscles.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: air can’t flow through the nose or mouth even though the body keeps trying to breathe. It’s far more common, and treatable by your dentist.
Common signs include severe early-morning headaches, daytime sleepiness and insomnia.
Why treatment matters
In obstructive sleep apnea, soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses into the airway and the tongue falls back, tightening the blockage. The harder the body fights for air, the tighter it gets, until you rouse enough to clear it. With carbon dioxide rising and oxygen falling, the heart pumps harder and faster. Sleep apnea is linked to serious heart conditions, so if you suspect it, get it checked.
Treatment options
We start with tests to diagnose the problem and decide on treatment. We may suggest cutting back on habits that worsen sleep apnea, such as smoking, alcohol and tranquilizers.
- Oral appliances: comfortable dental devices that ease the lower jaw forward to keep the tongue from blocking the airway, a less intrusive alternative to traditional sleep masks, and often a way to avoid surgery.
- Surgery: a more permanent option that moves the lower jaw (and the tongue with it) slightly forward. It has an impressive success rate.