Sleep !!

Do u suffer from the following?

• Snoring
• Difficulty in breathing
• Restlessness the whole day
• Tiredness due to improper sleep
• Reduced stamina
• Airway obstruction
• Narrow upper jaw

Pls check with our Sleep Apnoea specialist today!!!!

What is Sleep Disorders in Dentistry?

It can be explained as the treatment of Sleep Disordered Breathing such as snoring, UARS, Sleep Apnea, Nocturnal Bruxism etc. Sleep Disordered Breathing is often ignored by Primary Medical Care which results in Major Health Consequences. Dentist plays an important role in the treatment of such Disorders. Sleep Disordered Breathing can be defined as a malfunction of normal breathing during sleep.

It can mainly be of three kinds:

1. Snoring
2. Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)
3. Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a severe type of sleep disorder in which while sleeping the person experience repetitive stop and start in breathing.

Types Of Sleep Apnea:

1. Obstructive sleep Apnea (OSA ) – It is the most common kind of sleep apnea found in patients. This kind of sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles relax.
2. Central Sleep Apnea – This sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the breath controlling muscles.
3. Complex Sleep Apnea or Mixed Apnea – In this kind of Sleep Apnea the patient suffers from both Obstructive and Central sleep apnea.

Reasons for Sleep Disorders

There can be a number of reasons for Sleep Disorders which includes Narrowing of upper air passages, Reduced airway muscle tone, Nasal obstruction Obesity, Drugs, Alcohol, Fatigue, Smoking, and Heredity etc.

What happens to the patients with Sleep Disorder?

A person with Sleep Disordered Breathing goes through several problems like:

1. Narrowing or collapsing of the airway.
2. Interference in breathing during sleep.
3. Occurs at different levels of Airways.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Symptoms of Obstructive and Complex Sleep Apnea is quiet same which makes it hard for the physician to diagnose the correct type of Sleep Apnea. The main symptoms of Sleep Apnea are as follows:

1. Patient experienced loud snoring.
2. A periodic interruption in breathing during sleep is experienced by the patient.
3. The patient wakes up abruptly during the sleep.
4. The breathing problem such as shortness of breathing is experienced.
5. The patient faces difficulty in falling and staying asleep.
6. The patient suffers from hypersomnia i.e. day time sleep.
7. The patient experience daytime fatigue and fails to concentrate.
8. The patient gets irritated.

TREATMENTS FOR SLEEP DISORDER

1. Home sleep study or Ploysomnography:
   Polysomnography (PSG) is a study or test done while you’re fully asleep. Your doctor will observe you as you sleep, record data about your sleep patterns, and identify any sleep disorders.
2. Airway Orthotics- Airway Orthotics is considered as a First Line Therapy for curing snoring, Mild and Moderate Sleep Apnea.  A dental orthosis is designed in a way that it advances the mandible and hence increases the size of the upper airway. By doing this it permits oral air flow. In order to avoid any discomfort and salivation, the device size is minimized.
   Ten of eleven patients prefer an Airway Orthotic over nCPAP for their long-term treatment to fight Sleep Disorders. Also 90% patient compliance after 2 ½ years of wear.
   
3. nCPAP- Nasal continuous positive airway pressure pumps air into nose under pressure to expand collapsed airway. This is relatively simple and effective treatment for curing Sleep disorders.
4. DNA appliance: DNA Appliance has to be worn during the evening and night. It has shape similar to ordinary dental retainer. The test results of polysomnograms (PSG) and Home Sleep Tests (HST) also certifies that one can get rid of Obstructive Sleep Apnea permanently or partially with this appliance allowing many patients to become free from CPAP.