Washington Dental Sleep Medicine

Dental Sleep Medicine is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the treatment and management of sleep-related breathing disorders. These disorders include snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes and can occur multiple times throughout the night.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the more common type, accounting for approximately 84% of all sleep apnea cases. It occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax and block the airway, causing breathing to temporarily stop or become shallow.

Some symptoms of sleep apnea can include:

• Loud snoring
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Daytime fatigue

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and even death.

Sleep apnea can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. However, certain factors may increase the risk of developing sleep apnea, such as obesity, family history, and physical characteristics like a narrowed airway or enlarged tonsils. Other medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are also associated with an increased risk of sleep apnea.

Dental Sleep Medicine Treatment Options

One of the most common ways to treat sleep apnea is with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. This medical device requires the patient to wear a mask that supplies air while they sleep. Many people, however, find CPAP machines uncomfortable and often wonder if there are any alternatives.

In some cases, patients can treat sleep apnea with an oral appliance. These custom-made devices are worn in the mouth during sleep—not unlike a retainer. Most commonly, they work by adjusting the position of the wearer’s jaw.

At Four Rivers Periodontics and Implant Specialists, we are dedicated to providing quality dental sleep medicine in Washington. We use an evaluation technique called pharyngometry to determine the jaw’s optimal position to keep the airway open. This helps us to fine-tune each oral appliance to the patient’s needs, take some of the guesswork out of the process, and put the patient on the path toward better sleep.

Are You Ready for a Good Night of Sleep?

If you have been struggling to get a good night of sleep, you may be affected by sleep apnea, a common condition that your dentist can address. Our dental sleep medicine services in Washington can help you open obstructed air pathways without using a CPAP machine, allowing you the chance to get better sleep.

For more information about our services, contact Four Rivers Periodontics and Implant Specialists online.