Sleep is a vital process that helps people stay healthy. However, when a person has sleep problems, they may be more likely to have mental health issues. In addition to the physical effects of a lack of sleep, it can lead to an increased risk for depression and anxiety. Fortunately, dental sleep medicine options are available for people who struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep.
In the United States, nearly 10 percent of adults suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and an additional 30 percent suffer from a milder form of sleep-disordered breathing. Patients with OSA have severe disruptions in their breathing during sleep, which causes them to wake up frequently throughout the night. This leads to daytime fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness, as well as a host of other health problems.
Many people are unaware that sleep apnea and other sleep-disordered breathing can be linked to a variety of other health issues, such as heart disease. Recent studies have shown that people with untreated sleep apnea are at risk for heart attack, stroke, and early death. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine recommends that dentists work closely with their patients to screen for sleep apnea. Often referred to as the "forgotten sleeper disorder," obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder affecting approximately 25 million Americans—many of whom do not know they have it and therefore do not receive treatment to reduce its potentially dangerous effects. Learning the signs and symptoms of OSA can help you determine if you need to seek further treatment from a dental professional.
Dental sleep medicine appears in many guises to treat sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). By treating upper airway, breathing, and sleep issues using innovative new dental sleep medicine therapies, the dental profession can vastly improve patients' overall health, both directly and indirectly. Are you someone who has been having a particularly hard time sleeping because of your snoring or grinding? Start browsing Dental sleep medicine near me options.
Why Consult with a Dentist?
A person with OSA may be referred to a dentist for an oral exam to determine if an anatomic issue could cause airway obstruction during sleep. Dental professionals may provide initial screenings for OSA because snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, and other oral signs and symptoms such as TMJ issues, oral tori, and bruxism are associated with OSA.
Dental professionals use many resources to determine appropriate interventions for patients with SDB. The most effective approach to dental sleep medicine for each patient is tailored to their individual needs.
What Exactly is Dental Sleep Medicine?
Dental sleep medicine is a subdivision of dentistry that can relieve patients from sleep-related issues by targeting the palate, tongue, and throat problems. Dental practitioners can improve patient health by addressing these underlying issues while simultaneously improving their oral health.
The term "dental sleep medicine" is sometimes used to refer to a general treatment approach that includes non-surgical therapies such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and dental appliances. However, the term is also used to refer to specific treatments, such as dental implant therapy for patients with SDB.
Here are five ways that dental sleep medicine can improve your overall well-being:
1. Treating Sleep Apnea and Snoring.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during their sleep cycle, usually due to obstruction. This leads to severe fatigue and many other direct and indirect health issues. For example, high blood pressure is widespread amongst people with untreated OSA. The treatment of OSA through dental appliances has been shown to reduce blood pressure by an average of ten points.* Snoring may seem harmless, but it can be an indication of a potentially serious condition called sleep apnea. It also causes extreme fatigue during the day and many indirect health issues such as hypertension and heart disease. The use of dental appliances is a highly effective way to treat snoring and OSA.
Dental treatments for OSA fall into two categories:
1) appliances used during the night, and
2) procedures performed during the day.
Appliances are worn at night and typically include a mandibular advancement device (MAD), oral appliance therapy (OAT), or retention prosthesis. These appliances are designed to assist the jaw in moving forward during sleep.
2. Helps with Fatigue.
Treatments can alleviate fatigue associated with insufficient restorative sleep. Those who are suffering from OSA experience periods of wakefulness when they may feel tired and less able to function throughout their day. This fatigue can lead to a feeling of lethargy and depression, which can affect overall well-being. With dental sleep medicine, treatment for OSA and other related conditions such as restless legs syndrome can help reduce the number of awakenings per night and ultimately help sufferers achieve more restorative sleep and a better quality of life.
3. Directly Treat Sleep Disorders.
Directly Treat Sleep Disorders Many cases of obstructive sleep apnea are caused by anatomical issues in the upper airway. These problems are widespread among overweight individuals who suffer from comorbidities that affect breathing, such as chronic asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). By addressing these issues directly through dental sleep medicine therapies such as oral devices.
Dental devices can help address many oral health concerns, including TMJ disorder, teeth grinding, and snoring. By addressing these problems at their source, dental practitioners can improve the overall health of their patients while also improving their oral health.
4. Dental sleep medicine can treat the cardiovascular system.
The cardiovascular system is responsible for the flow of blood throughout your body. Your heart rate slows down when you are asleep, and your blood vessels dilate. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become narrowed or blocked, reducing the amount of oxygen that reaches your lungs and preventing you from having a healthy night's sleep. This can cause many health problems, including irregular heartbeats and hypertension (high blood pressure).
Dental sleep medicine treats cardiovascular disease by improving the quality of sleep. If you have obstructive sleep apnea and take it for granted, the results can be fatal. Chronic sleep apnea may overwork your heart because it is forced to pump harder to push blood through constricted airways. Taking dental sleep medicine keeps the airways open to smooth air flow as you breathe during sleep. This helps prevent irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure.
Dental sleep medicine has been proven to improve overall wellness if taken regularly. It also does not produce any side effects like other medications used for cardiovascular diseases.
5.Helps fight depression and anxiety.
People suffering from anxiety and depression can benefit from dental sleep medicine.
Stressful situations such as work problems or family issues can cause you to have trouble sleeping because they tax your mind and body until they're exhausted. When you're stressed, you may find yourself tossing and turning in bed because you can't get comfortable. Insomnia -- People who suffer from insomnia don't sleep well during the night because they either wake up during the night or cannot fall asleep in the first place. People with insomnia often have trouble sleeping throughout the night because they have difficulty establishing a routine that allows them to fall asleep effortlessly and stay asleep until morning.
Treating the underlying cause of sleeplessness can help people with depression, anxiety and other conditions exacerbated by lack of sleep. Mental health issues are among the most common reasons for poor sleeping habits. Treating the dental state may also improve mental health
Takeaway
All of us – even healthy people – can benefit from dental sleep medicine. Even if you don't have any other health issues or allergies, the benefits provided by Dental Sleep Medicine can help you live a healthier and more energy filled life. You will have more energy during the day and feel better throughout your entire well-being. If you're interested in learning more about Dental Sleep Medicine, look for a Dental sleep medicine near me provider!