Sleep Apnea Treatment – Bonita Springs, FL

Apnea simply means the temporary absence of breath. There are two main types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. Central sleep apnea is the rare form that is typically caused by malfunctions in the nervous system.

Far more common is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is essentially caused by an over-relaxation of the throat muscles during sleep. As a result, airways constrict or collapse, preventing the lungs from taking in enough oxygen. This can happen as many as dozens of times per hour.

Obstructive sleep apnea is dangerous because it causes a lack of oxygen in the body.  Since the lungs are not fully oxygenating the blood, the heart must work overtime to compensate by pushing an increased volume of blood to other organs.  Heart muscles are being placed at an extreme risk by being overworked while simultaneously being in an oxygen deficient environment.  This may directly lead to a heart attack. In addition, sleep is adversely affected from these episodes. Concentration and awareness can be decreased which can reduce the quality of life.

Obstructive sleep apnea is actually the progression of snoring. As a snorer ages, gains weight, or consumes alcohol, he or she has an ever-increasing risk of sleep apnea. As such, it is vital for snorers to be screened for sleep apnea, a service which we provide free of charge at Pelican Landing Dental. If given a positive screening test result, one should be properly evaluated by a sleep physician utilizing a sleep study. However, if you snore but do not have apnea, Pelican Landing Dental can fabricate you a comfortable “snore device” to end your snoring today. For those of us who do suffer from apnea, a different "apnea appliance" can be fabricated following a medical diagnosis. This diagnosis allows medical insurance to be billed for your apnea treatment.

The gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, particularly severe apnea, for years has been the CPAP. The CPAP (pictured) is a device worn over the face during sleep. This machine forces air into the upper airway en route to the lungs. This is made to overcome the obstruction and allow for adequate oxygen intake.

Although the CPAP is an effective treatment, it has one major drawback. Patients consistently report that the CPAP is uncomfortable and many people do not use it at all as a result. If not worn, no benefit can be derived.

For well over a decade now, dental treatment for sleep apnea has been recognized by the American Sleep Apnea Association and the FDA as the first recommended treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea (up to 29 breathing stoppages per hour). Most importantly, dental appliances are reported by most as being comfortable, and as a result, they are consistently worn!

Since the soft tissues in the throat create an obstruction to airflow, removing these obstructions is paramount in opening the airway and allowing optimal oxygen intake. A custom-made dental appliance gently holds the lower jaw in a forward position. This essentially prevents the throat muscles from collapsing and therefore holds the airway open.