Your Ottawa Invisalign® Provider
At Manor Park Dental, our Ottawa dentists can help to treat your sleep apnea symptoms by recommending a range of remedies including oral appliances and, in rare cases, surgery.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a type of breathing disorder. This serious, potentially life-threatening condition is characterized by brief interruptions in breathing during sleep.
The sound we all know as snoring occurs when the airway is partially blocked, causing the palatal tissues to vibrate. Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the airway is completely blocked for certain periods of time.
The condition poses a significant health risk for the patient, as it can lead to heart problems.
Our dentists at Manor Park Dental can recommend dental appliances or surgical remedies for sleep apnea. We can help you decide which option is right for you.
Why Treat Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening condition as it can lead to irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. It can also cause excessive sleepiness during the day. Sleep apnea can be treated with dental appliances or surgical remedies.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can cause several symptoms such as:
- Extremely loud snoring
- Cardiovascular disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Depression
- Lack of energy
- Heartburn
- Chronic sleepiness during the day
- Irritability
- Awakening with dry mouth or headache
- Memory loss or memory problems
Snoring may also cause sleep problems for the spouse, though there is hope. Because obstructive sleep apnea is a medical condition, it's imperative that it's treated properly.
Treating Sleep Apnea
There are a few potential treatments for sleep apnea, including:
Oral Appliances
At Manor Park Dental, we provide custom-fitted oral appliances to shift the lower jaw and tongue muscles to open the airway. This helps increase your airflow and prevents waking through the night.
CPAP Machine
Also known as Continuous Positive Air Pressure Machines, CPAP machines are electronic devices that use an internal fan to draw in outside air. They then humidify and pressurize the air before sending it to the user through a connective base and face mask that they breathe through.
Surgery
Reserved for rare cases, sometimes we recommend surgical removal of the nasal obstruction that is blocking a patient's airway.