Snoring and sleep apnea often go hand in hand. Although snoring does not mean that you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, left untreated, it can lead to it. There are many different designs for oral appliances that can help treat snoring, and Dr. Vranjes would be happy to discuss them with you. Please call us to schedule a consultation.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) results from a narrowing of the throat that partially or completely blocks the flow of air during sleep, resulting in problems with breathing (often described as sleep disordered breathing). Each episode of problem breathing lasts about 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, a person wakes up for a very short time to restore normal breathing, but the person often does not remember waking up. These episodes can be categorized as either apneas (where the flow of air is completely blocked) or hypopneas (where the flow of air is partially blocked). A person with OSA has dozens to hundreds of these episodes a night.
OSA is the most common reason people see a sleep doctor. About 4% of men and 1-2% of women have obstructive sleep apnea. In women, rates of OSA increase to up to 3% after menopause.
Dynamic Dental – SE Calgary
Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment
403-453-5588
A full-service family oriented SE Calgary dental clinic
#210, 163 Quarry Park Blvd. SE
Risk factors for OSA include being overweight, having a large neck size (greater than 17″ in men and 16″ in women), having a small jaw and/or large tongue, tissues that partially block the back of the throat (such as large tonsils), and a family history of OSA, high blood pressure or thyroid problems.
An overnight sleep study is the best way to test for sleep apnea. This can be done either at home or in a sleep laboratory. Sleep tests usually monitor sleep patterns, muscle activity, breathing problems, heart rate and oxygenation. As a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Vranjes has a special interest in helping people with obstructive sleep apnea. Schedule a consultation today if you’d like to discuss this further, or to learn about some of the treatments now available, including oral appliances.
