Sleep Apnea and the Dentist

Rest is a vital part of our general health. During the night our bodies repair our cells. Without proper rest even the mind suffers. Recognizing sleep deprivation is important for everyone especially those of us in health care. If you are feeling tired through the day, if you fall asleep during the day or if you feel a general mental cloudyness there is a chance you are not resting properly. Some of us just need to get an early night and ACTUALLY REST. At times we find that there are other underlying issues. Sleep Apnea is at times an unrecognized root cause. Sleep Apnea can be caused by many issues: be they genetic, small lower jaw size, excess weight, alcohol consumption etc. Apnea is occurs when during deep sleep the soft palate or the tongue touches the back of our throat. This stops air flow and thus stops oxygen from getting into the body. The lack of oxygen causes us to wake up just a little bit. We don't remember this happening but it stops rest. If this continues for a long time it can cause deadly health problems.

Sleep Apnea can be recognized by your dentist. If confirmed with a sleep study dentists can actually fabricate a special night-guard that can alleviate or improve symptoms. By holding the bottom jaw more forward we open the passageways that allow us to breathe. If we are breathing normally we are sleeping properly and resting properly. With proper rest we will remain healthy longer!