How Orthodontics Can Improve Sleep and Breathing

If you frequently wake up feeling tired, unrested, or unwell, then you might be unknowingly suffering from sleep apnea, and orthodontic treatment might be able to help you get on a path to better sleep and improved breathing.  

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder marked by the frequent cessation of breathing during sleep. The term "sleep apnea' refers to a group of sleeping disorders that includes:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the physical obstruction of the airways during sleep. This generally occurs when the soft tissues of the oral and throat cavities collapse and block airflow.  

• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) - Central sleep apnea is caused by a nervous system disorder where signals from the brain that keep the lungs breathing regularly during sleep are blocked or lost.  

• Complex Sleep Apnea (CompSAS) - Complex sleep apnea occurs when patients suffer from a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.  

Signs and Symptoms Sleep Apnea

Since sleep apnea occurs during sleep, many patients don't realize they have a problem unless they have a partner who tells them about their sleep irregularities. However, sleep apnea often impacts health and quality of life during waking hours, and these issues can indicate a potential sleep apnea problem.  

Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Breathing that stops and starts during sleep

• Gasping for air during sleep

• Loud snoring interrupted by quiet periods

• Waking with a headache, sore throat, and/or dry mouth

• Frequently waking during sleep and finding it difficult to fall back to sleep

• Daytime fatigue and sleepiness

• Difficulty focusing during the day

• Poor memory

• Irritability and mood swings

• Depression and anxiety

• Problems with sexual function

The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can significantly reduce your quality of life. It can leave you feeling groggy throughout the day, which increases your risk of causing accidents. Additionally, poor sleep diminishes your mental health and cognitive function which can make it difficult to get through the day.  

In addition, sleep apnea is hard on your systemic health. It increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, diabetes, and dementia. It can also increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and cancer.  

How to Know If You Need Treatment: Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

With so many threats to your health and happiness, it is important to detect, diagnose, and treat sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is often detected when patients report symptoms to their doctor, dentist, or orthodontist. In order to diagnose and treat sleep apnea, patients must participate in a sleep study. The purpose of a sleep study is to detect, measure, and record instances of breathing cessation during sleep. These studies also help determine the type of sleep apnea from which a patient is suffering.  

Common Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The type or combination of treatments that is appropriate for any individual case of sleep apnea depends on the type of sleep apnea detected.  

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) - Treatment with a CPAP machine is the most common sleep apnea treatment. This machine uses an air pump, hoses, and a breathing mask to deliver continuous positive airway pressure that keeps a person's airways open and functioning during sleep.  

• Nightguards - Some mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea can be successfully addressed with a special nightguard designed to hold the jawbones open in a particular way that prevents the soft tissues from collapsing during sleep.  

• Orthodontic Treatment - Mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea can also be addressed with orthodontic treatment. Treatments using orthodontic expanders or braces can widen a person's airway and correct abnormalities in a person's anatomical structure, eliminating OSA occurrences.  

Orthodontics for Better Sleep: Sleep Apnea Treatment in Richardson, TX

At Fleming Orthodontics, we provide comprehensive orthodontic treatment designed to help improve sleep and breathing by addressing the underlying anatomical causes of obstructive sleep apnea in patients. We thoroughly evaluate and examine each patient, discussing symptoms and reviewing diagnostic images to determine the most appropriate treatment strategy for correcting the anatomical issues contributing to sleep disorders and breathing difficulties.  

To learn more about how orthodontics can be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea and improve sleep and breathing, we welcome you to contact our office to request a consultation with Dr. Patty Fleming today.

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