Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

Sleep apnea is a condition where your airway becomes entirely blocked as you sleep. You stop breathing for a while until you suddenly wake to gasp for air. Then you fall asleep again, and repeat this pattern through each night. You might stop breathing and wake hundreds of times each night without knowing it.

Nightly snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea. Please see our page on snoring for more details. You and your sleeping partner probably know if you have a snoring habit, but probably do not know if you suffer from sleep apnea. Most people have never heard of sleep apnea.

The word "apnea" means "without breath" and that sums up the dangers of sleep apnea. When you stop breathing hundreds of times every night, your sleep is being routinely interfered with. You probably feel tired every day, or slow-witted, or even a bit depressed. You may find your work performance slipping and you may be getting into car accidents. This all stems from the fact that you are not getting enough sleep. The body cannot properly restore itself.

There is a graver danger, however. Your blood is not getting enough oxygen. The lungs become depleted of fresh air hundreds of times each night, which means the waste products in your venous blood are not being fully taken away when you breathe out and oxygen is not properly filling your arterial blood.

Inadequate oxygen to the brain is a serious condition, regardless of whether it occurs from near-drowning, suffocation, or sleep apnea. Over time, your sleep apnea can cause a heart attack or stroke. Studies have made these connections repeatedly.

For more information, please see our page on Sleep Apnea.

Sleep apnea can be treated successfully by a customized dental appliance worn at night. Not all dentists treat sleep apnea. You can contact us to find one near you who does treat it; or you can use the map below.