Getting Over Sleep Apnea through Dentistry

According to the National Institute of Health, there is an estimated 12 million Americans suffering from sleep apnea, and most of these cases are undetected and misdiagnosed. It is a condition characterized by breathing lapses during sleep. Fortunately, this condition can be treated by a dentist or an oral surgeon. Untreated sleep apnea can result to a lot of health complications. It can result to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. It can also cause erectile dysfunction, memory loss, and concentration impairment. Furthermore, it also reduces the quality of sleep of a person, resulting to daytime sleepiness. There are three types of sleep apnea, namely: obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is an airway blockage caused by excessive tissue in the back of the tongue, nose, or throat. Central apnea happens when the brain fails to send the right signals to the breathing muscles. The mixed type, also called complex apnea, is the presence of both central and obstructive apnea. A person with this condition suffers from gasping for air during sleep and loud snoring. Goose Creek and Dorchester dentists can treat all three types of sleep apnea through corrective measures. Obstructive apnea can be treated by using dental devices worn by patients during sleep. A tongue-retaining device can be used to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway. A dental appliance can also be inserted into the mouth to correct jaw positions. These devices are removable and worn only during the night. There are many oral surgery dentists Goose Creek and Dorchester residents can count on to treat severe cases of sleep apnea. They can perform oral and maxillofacial surgeries to treat this breathing condition. They would be the best people to turn to if people want to undergo an operation to remove the excessive tissues at the back of the tongue, although ENT doctors can also do this kind of surgery. A dentist in Goose Creek and Dorchester trained to perform laser dentistry can also conduct surgical operations to treat sleep apnea. This is most beneficial to people who want painless dental surgeries. Although, laser dentistry costs higher than other treatment options, the result is surely worth its price.