Do I Have Sleep Apnea Deerfield Beach, FL
For many patients, treating sleep apnea can improve their overall quality of life. The condition can be obtrusive and affect you in both your sleeping and waking hours. Sleep apnea may be treatable through dental care.
Solutions for sleep apnea are available at Dentistry of South Florida Family & Emergency Dentists in Deerfield Beach and the surrounding area. Maintaining your dental health can also benefit your sleep. We may be able to help. Call us today at (954) 569-8989 to schedule an appointment and learn more.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where patients have something blocking (or obstructing) part or all of their upper airway in their sleep, forcing the diaphragm and chest muscles to work harder to pull air into the lungs. This condition may cause the patient's breathing to become very shallow or even briefly stop altogether. Eventually, when the patient begins to breathe again, it will be accompanied by a loud gasp, snort, or body jerk.
Many patients are not aware that they have this condition and may think they are only suffering from inadequate sleep. Dentists may be able to recognize and treat the signs of sleep apnea, as these symptoms often take a toll on the mouth and jaw.
“Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where patients have something blocking (or obstructing) part or all of their upper airway in their sleep, forcing the diaphragm and chest muscles to work harder to pull air into the lungs.”
Sleep Apnea and Other Sleep Disorders
There are several different types of sleep disorders. Each falls into six different categories: insomnias, hypersomnias, sleep-related breathing disorders, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, parasomnias, and sleep movement disorders. While insomnia is a type of sleep disorder where the patient is unable to fall or stay asleep, hypersomnia is a group of sleep disorders that cause a patient to feel excessively sleepy.
Parasomnias are a group of sleep disorders that consist of having undesirable experiences while falling asleep, sleeping, or waking up. Sleep apnea can be an underlying cause of parasomnias, since intermittently losing breath inevitably puts stress on the body. The same can be said for circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (where the sleep times are out of alignment) and sleep movement disorders (where movement during or before sleep interferes with sleep). Sleep apnea itself is a sleep-related breathing disorder, where there is difficulty breathing during sleep.
“There are several different types of sleep disorders.”
Causes and Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can arise at any time in a person's life. Nonetheless, there are certain risk factors that may make a person more likely to develop the condition. Oral conditions that may cause sleep apnea are narrowed or constricted airways, chronic nasal congestion, Bruxism, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). Other risk factors include excess weight, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, gender, genetics, and asthma.
Airways are often blocked or constricted due to a small jaw, tonsils that lay over the throat, a large tongue, or fat deposits in the back of the throat. Bruxism and TMJ both affect the jaw because of constant grinding and clenching, which can affect normal breathing. Dentistry of South Florida Family & Emergency Dentists can properly examine a patient and determine whether they have sleep apnea, if it is caused by an oral condition, and the treatment needed for their specific case.
“Oral conditions that may cause sleep apnea are narrowed or constricted airways, chronic nasal congestion, Bruxism, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).”
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Symptoms and Signs of Sleep Apnea
The brain has a way of waking us up when there is an inadequate supply of oxygen, but it only lasts for a few seconds, allowing a great amount of airflow to flow through. Therefore, many people may not realize they have sleep apnea. However, it is common that a family member or close friend will recognize that there is an issue as they might snore loudly, suddenly stop breathing, and gasp for air periodically during sleep.
Most symptoms of sleep apnea affect a patient's overall lifestyle, which often signals them that they may have a health condition. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- fatigue
- restless sleep or insomnia
- difficulty concentrating
- waking up several times a night to urinate
- awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat
- headaches
- irritability
- heartburn
- decreased libido and erectile dysfunction
“Most symptoms of sleep apnea affect a patient’s overall lifestyle, which often signals them that they may have a health condition.”
Questions Answered on This Page
Q. What is the difference between sleep apnea and other sleep disorders?
Q. How can I manage my sleep apnea?
Q. What are the causes of sleep apnea?
Q. What are the symptoms and signs of sleep apnea?
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Treating Sleep Apnea
Luckily, there are many different ways to treat sleep apnea including oral appliances. Patients who are good candidates for oral appliances must have impressions of their teeth and return for a fitting during a later appointment. It may be necessary for patients to have another sleep test while wearing the device to ensure its efficacy. Further office visits may be required to make adjustments. These devices are unobtrusive and easy to travel with, as they do not require any electricity.
Other options include continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines and surgery. These are more involved treatments that may benefit those with more severe cases of sleep apnea. Dentistry of South Florida Family & Emergency Dentists can help patients determine which treatment is right for them.
“Dentistry of South Florida Family & Emergency Dentists can help patients determine which treatment is right for them.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How common is sleep apnea?
A. According to the Sleep Foundation, "Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 2-9% of adults in the United States, but many cases are believed to go undiagnosed." Since a person may go a long period of time without realizing that they have sleep apnea, many are unaccounted for.
Q. What is the success rate of sleep apnea treatments?
A. Each case, treatment, and person is different. There could be two patients with the same type of sleep apnea but who have entirely different results. For example, the success rate of most sleep apnea surgeries is 60%, while a CPAP machine may completely cure a person of their condition.
Q. What are the possible complications of untreated sleep apnea?
A. Sleep apnea is a life-threatening condition as oxygen is a pertinent component of overall health, affecting nearly every organ. Going without treatment can result in hypertension, heart disease, fatigue, migraines, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, and liver problems.
Q. What are the long-term effects of sleep apnea?
A. Going without treatment for a long period of time can have dire effects on the mind and body. Long-term effects of sleep apnea include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, heart attacks, and irregular heartbeat. It is important to seek immediate help and treatment when first experiencing symptoms.
Q. What foods should be avoided for patients with sleep apnea?
A. There are not many restrictions on foods and beverages for patients with sleep apnea unless their case is caused by an allergy or other specific factor. Dairy and bananas are known to increase mucus production, which can cause or progress sleep apnea. We will discuss any restrictions if a patient's case requires them.
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Dental Terminology
Learn More Today
Treating sleep apnea can improve your overall dental health and quality of life. We at Dentistry of South Florida Family & Emergency Dentists may be able to help. Call us today at (954) 569-8989 to schedule an appointment and learn more.
Helpful Related Links
- American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Clinical Terms. 2025
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2025
- WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2025
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