Sleep Apnea

We're concerned about the overall health of our patients, including their sleep health. Many people suffer needlessly from dangerous sleep disruptive disorders that keep them from getting enough oxygen at night. The risk of a heart attack is 23 times more likely than average with a sleep disorder, and 92% of stroke victims live unknowingly with this condition before an attack. Our training allows us to offer you education and treatment surrounding sleep health in the simplest and most cost-effective way possible.

Estimates suggest that more than twelve million Americans compromise their health due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Most cases remain undiagnosed, contributing to diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and traffic accidents related to drowsy driving. Dentistry serves a vital role in treating this silent epidemic. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances as a primary therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and for patients with severe sleep apnea who can't tolerate CPAP treatment.

What is OSA?

OSA is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep due to a blockage in the airway. Obstructions occur when throat muscles, tongue, tonsils, or the soft palate falls back into the throat. The obstruction results in a severe drop in blood oxygen levels throughout the night.

OSA is typically diagnosed using a polysomnogram or a sleep study. During a sleep study, a sleep physician monitors brain activity and body system functioning while a patient rests overnight at a sleep lab. The specialist evaluates the study data collected to diagnose sleep disorders and recommend treatment. If indicated by the sleep doctor, a dentist trained in sleep medicine works with him/her to treat obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. In some cases, a home sleep study may also be possible instead of reporting to a sleep lab.

How Is OSA Treated?

Treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea may involve surgery, CPAP or BiPAP machines, or oral appliance therapy. Oral appliances provide the least invasive option and often a good choice for treatment of mild to moderate OSA. A carefully calibrated appliance can comfortably help hold the jaw in a precise position throughout the night, allowing critical oxygen flow.

All treatment recommendations should be made in consultation with your sleep physician. Once a treatment path that you can use consistently is chosen, we may be able to provide critical support for your efforts. If appliance therapy is selected, it's essential the right method and positioning are designed to precisely maintain your airway.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sleep Apnea (Fredericksburg, VA)

  • There are several types of sleep apnea. These are:

    • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): It occurs when throat muscles relax, blocking the airflow into the lungs either partially or completely during sleep.

    • Central sleep apnea (CSA): It happens when people stop breathing while sleeping because the brain doesn't signal the muscles to take in air.

    • Complex sleep apnea or treatment-emergent central sleep apnea: It occurs when central apneas affect people with obstructive sleep apnea (diagnosed through sleep studies) during treatment.

  • These are some of the signs that someone may have sleep apnea:

    • Interrupted breathing during sleep (often reported by other people)
    • Loud snoring
    • Restlessness during sleep
    • Gasping for air during sleep
    • Coughing during sleep
    • Choking sensation causing sudden awakenings
    • Daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia) or fatigue, even after a full night's sleep
    • Morning headache
    • Dry mouth
    • Insomnia or difficulty falling asleep
    • Irritability
    • Sore throat in the morning
    • Difficulty concentrating during the day
    • Forgetfulness
    • Night sweats
    • Sexual dysfunction

    More often than not, the first signs of OSA aren't detected by patients but by their bed partners and, sometimes, by their dentists.

    Some oral health problems, such as teeth grinding or bruxism, can be a sign of this sleep disorder. If you or a loved one has experienced any of these symptoms, contact an experienced sleep doctor in Fredericksburg, VA.

  • OSA can affect anyone regardless of their age. However, symptoms in children can be difficult to detect because they aren't as obvious. The most common include:

    • Bedwetting
    • Poor school performance
    • Teeth grinding or bruxism
    • Sluggishness or sleepiness
    • Unusual sleeping positions
    • Learning or behavioral disorders
    • Excessive sweating during sleep
    • Difficulty swallowing
    • Ribcage moving inward when inhaling
    • Daytime mouth breathing

  • Specialists often use a sleep study, formally known as a polysomnogram, to diagnose sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea.

    Have you or a loved one detected a potential sign of OSA? This isn't enough for a diagnosis. Contact trusted sleep apnea doctors in Fredericksburg, VA, and have an expert evaluate you, determine the extent of your condition, and suggest treatments.

  • To help treat milder cases of obstructive sleep apnea, healthcare providers may recommend small lifestyle changes, such as the following:

    • Lose weight
    • Quit smoking
    • Treat allergies
    • Change sleeping position

    However, treatment options are different if symptoms are moderate to severe. They may include surgery, positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines, and oral appliance therapy. The latter is the least invasive alternative.

    Keep in mind that treatment recommendations for sleep disorders can only be made by specialists. Don't hesitate to schedule appointments with experienced sleep doctors in Fredericksburg, VA, to learn more about this.

  • Obstructive sleep apnea can lead to several health problems and complications if left untreated. The following are some examples:

    • Hypertension or high blood pressure
    • Cardiomyopathy
    • Stroke
    • Heart attacks
    • Congestive heart failure
    • Diabetes
    • Arrhythmias

    Moreover, untreated OSA can affect patients' personal and professional lives, increasing the risk of car crashes, work-related accidents, job impairment, and academic underachievement.

  • There's an area of ​​specialization for dentists that focuses on sleep-related breathing disorders, such as loud snoring and OSA. It's known as dental sleep medicine.

    A dentist trained in this field can collaborate with doctors to identify signs of sleep apnea and find or provide the best treatment plan to address that sleep disorder.

    Dentists can look for worn tooth surfaces or inflamed and receding gums to determine if patients grind their teeth, which is a common sign of sleep apnea. Additionally, these specialists can help treat OSA symptoms through oral appliance therapy.

  • Oral appliance therapy is a treatment option for OSA, snoring, and other sleep disorders. It involves using oral appliances that prevent the tongue and lower jaw from obstructing patients' airways while they sleep by repositioning them.

    Many seasoned sleep doctors in Fredericksburg, VA, recommend oral appliance therapy, and we offer it! Don't hesitate to contact us if you want more information about this treatment option.

  • If doctors think this therapy is the best option to treat sleep apnea cases, they'll refer patients to qualified dentists who can make custom-fit appliances.

    The oral appliance fits over patients' teeth, simulating an orthodontic retainer to keep the jaw and tongue in a forward position. As a result, the airway will remain open during sleep.

    Dentists also provide ongoing care to make sure the oral appliance works correctly and remains comfortable for patients.

  • Oral appliance therapy offers many benefits to sleep apnea patients, helping them enjoy that good night's sleep they deserve and live a healthy life. Below are some of them:

    • Is a non-intrusive treatment option
    • Offers another alternative to people who cannot tolerate CPAP machines
    • Is comfortable and quiet
    • Can improve symptoms of sleep apnea, such as moodiness, snoring, sleepiness, and concentration issues

    Do you want to get started with using oral appliance therapy to enjoy these benefits? If your trusted sleep apnea doctors in Fredericksburg, VA, recommend this option, we may be able to provide support for your efforts!