Brooklin- Whitby Sleep Appliances

Sleep apnea affects many individuals and is a disorder defined by shallow breathing or pauses in the breath during sleep. Some patients may experience a rapid breath because they are trying to compensate for a narrowed or obstructed airway but more commonly our reflexes will wake us up from sleep as the airway becomes blocked. This is because less and less oxygen can get to all the other parts of the body and the body is trying to maintain the proper amount of air supply.

If it is a mild case, then the individual may just experience snoring but in more severe cases the individual may stop breathing sporadically and many times at night. To determine how severe the patient’s condition is, and what stage of sleep apnea they suffer from we will recommend they attend a sleep study. This is a great diagnostic tool to determine exactly what is going on because even though someone snores it doesn’t mean they are suffering from sleep apnea and vice versa. Depending on the results of the assessments the treatment options will vary.

Regardless of a sleep study though, how the patient feels during the day is the biggest indicator of whether they are just someone who snores or if they are experiencing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea will have an effect on the quality of the patient’s sleep and then the patient will experience fatigue and drowsiness during the day. Normal snoring will not have this effect on the quality of life.

There are two main ways to treat sleep apnea and which is best for the patient depends on the stage of sleep apnea they are experiencing.This is handled via Sleep Appliances.  If the sleep apnea is quite severe the best option is a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP). However, for someone with mild or moderate cases, or those who can’t tolerate a CPAP machine, we recommend a simple oral appliance (dental splint). This appliance’s purpose is to encourage the airway to stay open throughout the night by keeping the lower jaw in a forward position. If you want to get more information about sleep apnea, sleep appliances and the best treatment for your individual case, please call our office at 905-655-6255 to schedule a consultation with one of our Brooklin dentists.