Dental Sleep Apnea Treatments Today in 2020
We are a sleep apnea dentist in Burtonsville near Silver Spring and Columbia Maryland. We are a DNA certified office as listed on vivoslife. Dr. Singh is the inventor of the Vivos DNA Appliance which is the only FDA approved appliance for correction of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Are you drowsy during the day? Is concentrating during the day difficult. Have trouble keeping your eyes open? You may have Sleep Apnea?
Research shows 80% of people who have sleep apnea do not know they have it. Sleep apnea can be diagnosed in children. Sleep apnea in kids is often mistaken as ADHD. Bed-wetting is also a sign in kids with obstructive sleep apnea.
TMJ Pain is 75% of the time a symptom of Sleep Apnea or Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome aka UARS.
Sleep Apnea TMJ link Video by Dr. Adams:
Individuals who suffer from TMJ Pain have night time airway problems and often obstructive sleep apnea.
One Treatment for TMJ is DNA Appliance Therapy
The DNA Appliance can increase the airway enough to correct or improve Sleep Apnea.
Sleep Apnea (OSA) is important to treat for many reasons, but the least of which is, it causes heart and kidney issues. OSA is one of the leading causes of premature death. Premature death is usually secondary to a heart attack or kidney failure. It is usually not due to someone who stops breathing and dies during the night.
OSA and night-time airway issues are the biggest causes of tooth clenching and TMJ issues. 79% of people with OSA have a TMJ problem. Corrective treatment of the Airway problems usually leads to improvements if not a cure of TMJ and SA. Yes, you should re-read the last sentence. It is imperative that the dental TMJ specialist consider sleep apnea when treating TMJ patients.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
People who have Sleep Apnea stop breathing several times during the night. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex sleep Apneas. Each Apnea is characterized by abnormal periodic cessation of breathing, though the cause of the apnea episode is different for each type of Apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea is by far the most common form of OSA. Obstructive Apnea is caused by a small mouth and airway, loss of elasticity of the tissues in the airway and poor tongue position.
Obstructive SA is something as dentists we can improve or cure through treatments available to re-develop the oral-facial structures and jawbones. One such treatment is the DNA Appliance. ALF Appliances have also be shown to be useful in the treatment of Airway.
Sleep Apnea Testing:
A Laboratory Sleep Study called a polysomnogram or home sleep test is the only definitive way to determine if you suffer from OSA. The tests are painless, simple to administer and generally take one night.
The results are analyzed by a doctor who will then give a definitive diagnosis. As dentists we do not diagnose OSA, but we can assist in correcting the cause of the Disease-small mouth and airway (in the case of Obstructive SA).
The DNA Appliance can increase the width and depth of the jaws. The increase in depth of the lower jaw will cause the tongue and all the tissues in the airway to remodel and grow forward and out of the airway.
Note: incease in size of jaws (above) and Airway (below)
Note increase in width of the lower part of the face and nasal passages.
Holistic Orthodontics uses functional forces such as chewing and tongue pressure along with a DNA or ALF Appliance to promote proper facial development. The best treatment for SA is to never get it. That is prevent OSA by using Holistic Orthodontics.
Do I have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) if I Snore?
If you snore, you most likely have OSA. Snoring is a noise made by air forcing through nose and mouth passages. Snoring can be caused by many factors. OSA often associated with snoring and if an individual Snores, they should receive a polysomnogram AKA, Sleep Study. Individuals who snore may not have sleep apnea. A snoring patient may just have an upper airway restriction. People with OSA might not snore. Snoring is caused happens when air going to the lungs is partially blocked. If air flowing to the lungs is blocked completely and repeatedly, the diagnosis of SA is given to the patient. Treatment of Obstructive sleep apnea is very important since it is one of the leading causes of heart and kidney disease. OSA is the leading cause of heart and kidney disease.
Wouldn’t I know if I have OSA?
80% of patients with OSA are not diagnosed. Sufferers of OSA may have no symptoms at all.
OSA people may have symptoms such as:
- morning tiredness or the feeling that it takes hours to wake-up
- Difficulty Concentrating. OSA Kids have been mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD
- TMJ symptoms
- Weight gain/slow metabolism
- tightness in the neck, shoulder blades and muscles of the face
- bags under the eyes
- scalloped tongue
- history of difficult orthodontic treatment including extractions of teeth to correct dental crowding
Most people do not understand the health consequences of OSA. The consequences of not treating sleep Apnea are Heart and Kidney Disease and possibly early death. Chronic OSA sufferers find themselves disproportionately with Heart Attacks, Kidney Failure and Dialysis.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Many people have heads and faces that under develop. Under development causes individuals to have small mouths, noses and throats. No surprise, small mouths, noses and throats allow for less airflow to the lungs. Small mouths can be caused by kids not eating enough hard and chewy foods, bottle feeding vs breast feeding, malnourishment and of course genetic factors.
What Treatments Are Available for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Mandibular Repositioning Appliances:
Below is the EMA Appliance. This is by far one of the most popular appliances around. These appliances can be used for patients with mild to moderate OSA. The Appliance requires the patient to bite forward with the lower jaw. When the lower jaw (Mandible) moves forward there is a mechanical opening of the mouth and airway. The appliance is worn at night for the rest of the patients life and when it is not used the OSA patient will have a recurrence of Sleep Apnea episodes.
CPAP
Positive Air systems that literally push air into the airway to overpower obstructions and increase airflow to the lungs. Obviously when the CPAP is not used SA recurs or worsens. These systems are not popular and many patients have compliance issues.
DNA Appliance corrective Airway Appliance (above)
DNA Appliance is a corrective therapy that redevelops the jaws and some of the facial bones. The Therapy increases the size if the mouth, nasal passageways and throat. The therapy can greatly improve or even correct Sleep Apnea. There are other Redevelopment Appliances available such as the ALF Appliance and the Homeoblock Appliance. This treatment since it is corrective is obviously the treatment of choice for many patients. Redevelopment Appliances take time and cost more money than CPAP and Mandibular Repositioning Appliances, but the can correct Sleep Apnea permanently and have other health benefits.
Will my Insurance Pay for OSA Treatment
It depends on your insurance coverage. Dental insurance may have orthodontic coverage. Medical Insurance may have Sleep Apnea coverage. We can not bill medical insurance but we will provide the correct procedure codes and a medical insurance claim form so patients can file the claims themselves.
How can I get Diagnosed with OSA?
First, come in for a consultation and we can recommend a home sleep study. We believe home sleep studies are the most accurate since they are performed in the normal home environment. The home sleep studies are read by board certified sleep doctors (medical doctors). Dentists can provide therapies to improve the airway, but only a sleep medical can diagnose SA.
Maryland Holistic Dentist is one of the topmost holistic dentistry clinic specializing in the holistic sleep apnea treatment helping patients with a healthy natural dental health for 25+ years.
Please Call (301) 421-1996 to schedule your OSA consultation!