Types of Sleep Apnea Affecting Upland Families

There are mainly three types of sleep apnea affecting local residents. These include obstructive, central, and mixed sleep apnea conditions.

Often, the most prevalent type of this disorder is obstructive sleep apnea among Upland patients. People with this condition have breathing difficulties as a result of upper airway blockage during sleep. Patients repeatedly experience airway blockage causing them to stop and resume breathing continually throughout the night. Patients may have breathing pauses lasting from seconds to minutes, occurring more than 30 times hourly perhaps because throat muscles are flaccid or your tongue is too large. Additionally, a small jaw can cause airway obstruction for many individuals.

Sleep apnea can cause significant disruptions to your sleep patterns while preventing oxygen from flowing adequately to vital organs. Sometimes, Upland patients may even experience heart rhythm troubles. The blockage can be partial or complete, and patients display body jerks and loud gasps as they resume breathing.

Central sleep apnea doesn't involve airway blockage; nonetheless, the brain fails to signal or relay vital information to muscles to allow proper breathing. Issues with your respiratory control center are believed to be the culprit for this sleep apnea type. Upland families with central sleep apnea may not benefit from oral appliances.

Patients may have a combination of central and obstructive types of apnea, which is called mixed apnea requiring specialized treatment approaches.

Impact of Sleep Apnea on Teeth for Upland Residents

If you have sleep apnea, you notice that the first sign is often tooth grinding, also called bruxism. Many of our Upland patients present with trouble sleeping because of sleep apnea. We examine them for dental issues such as worn-out tooth surfaces affecting their oral health.

The force exerted on teeth surfaces from grinding tends to cause wear as well as breakage of the teeth. As such, patients may have other problems due to weakened or fractured teeth. For instance, you may suffer cavities, gum inflammation, or gum recession due to the dental effects of grinding.

Moreover, sleep apnea has been linked to increased odds of having obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes among Upland families.

Professional Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Our experienced Upland dental team can help if you experience obstructive sleep apnea. We will create a personalized treatment plan that works for your specific needs. Frequently, a CPAP machine is considered the most common treatment for the disorder, but some Upland patients may not benefit from it. We may recommend an oral appliance that looks like a mouth protector for athletes. Oral mandibular advancement devices can help stop the tongue from causing blockage to the throat.

Our skilled Upland dentist uses precise impressions of your teeth to help fabricate the custom device. You will later visit our office to have it properly fitted for optimal comfort. A repositioner may also help in realigning the bite once you remove the appliance each morning.

Get more information about professional treatment for sleep apnea at Higher Ground Dentistry. Reach us by phone at 909-946-9090 for your appointment today!