Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that involves disruptions in breathing during sleep. This disruption can last from a few seconds to minutes and may occur multiple times throughout the night. There are two kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, that involves an issue with the airway; and central sleep apnea, where the brain doesn’t communicate properly with the muscles that control breathing. Sleep apnea is typically diagnosed in people who complain of not feeling rested frequently and who snore. Let’s learn more about one of the most common reasons for not getting a good night’s rest and what you might look for in a sleep apnea doctor.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects the normal breathing pattern during sleep, leading to interrupted breathing or shallow breaths. It can result in poor sleep quality and being tired during the day. If you’re overweight, have a thick neck, male, older, have a family history of sleep apnea, or smoke, you may have a higher risk of sleep apnea. Symptoms of sleep apnea may include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and irritability — only some of which you can report.
Diagnosis of sleep apnea can be helped by the reports of people you cohabitate with, as well. Once diagnosed, prompt treatment is essential to prevent complications such as heart problems, strokes, and even accidents caused by daytime drowsiness.
Doctors That Can Help Treat Sleep Apnea
Because sleep apnea is caused by and affects different systems of the body, you may find that treatment of your sleep apnea takes a multidisciplinary approach. Here are some of the providers who can help with your treatment.
Dentists
Dentists can play a crucial role in treating sleep apnea by fitting patients with oral devices that help keep the airway open during sleep. These devices are customized to your mouth and can be an effective treatment for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea. Dentists are often involved in the initial diagnosis of sleep apnea due to oral symptoms.
Dentists with training in sleep medicine or dental sleep medicine have the expertise to diagnose and treat sleep apnea using oral appliances. They work in collaboration with other healthcare providers to create comprehensive treatment plans for patients suffering from sleep disorders.
Primary Care Physician
Your primary care physician can also be a key player in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. They may refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation and management of the condition. Primary care physicians can provide initial guidance and support in identifying symptoms of sleep apnea and coordinating care with other specialists.
Primary care physicians have the knowledge to recognize common signs of sleep apnea and may conduct preliminary assessments to determine the need for further testing.
Sleep Medicine Physician
Sleep medicine physicians specialize in diagnosing and treating a variety of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. They have extensive training in sleep medicine and can conduct detailed evaluations to establish an accurate diagnosis. These specialists work closely with you to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to your needs.
Sleep medicine physicians are equipped to interpret the results of sleep studies and offer a variety of treatment options, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliances, and lifestyle modifications to improve sleep quality.
Other Medical Professionals Who Help
In addition to dentists, primary care physicians, and sleep medicine physicians, other medical professionals can also contribute to the treatment of sleep apnea.
another type of sleep apnea doctor is a neurologist, which may be involved in cases where central sleep apnea is present, as this type of sleep apnea is related to brain function. Otolaryngologists, or ear, nose, and throat specialists, can address issues related to the upper airway that may contribute to obstructive sleep apnea.
At the end of the day, collaboration with different healthcare providers is essential in delivering the best care if you do have sleep apnea. Working together, these specialists can ensure a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment, maximizing the chances of a high quality of life for you as you learn to live with sleep apnea.
How Sleep Apnea is Diagnosed
Diagnosing sleep apnea involves a combination of medical history review, physical examination, and sleep studies. During a medical evaluation, your providers will ask about your symptoms and assess your risk factors for developing sleep apnea.
Physical examinations may focus on assessing the airway for any obstructions that could contribute to sleep apnea. Your sleep apnea doctor may also recommend that you undergo a sleep study to monitor your breathing patterns, heart rate, oxygen levels, and brain activities during sleep. These studies provide valuable information for diagnosing the type and severity of sleep apnea.
How Sleep Apnea is Treated
Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, you’ll have several treatment options available. Your care team will help you choose which one is best for you. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a common treatment method that involves wearing a mask over the nose and/or mouth during sleep. This mask delivers pressurized air to keep the airway open and prevent breathing interruptions.
If you have mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliances prescribed by dentists can help keep the airway unobstructed by repositioning the jaw or tongue. Lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, regular exercise, and avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bedtime, can also help you manage any symptoms interfering with your quality of life.
Common FAQs
When should I bring up the possibility of sleep apnea to a doctor?
If you know you frequently exhibit some of the common symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s worth mentioning to a trusted healthcare provider. This could be as simple as a spouse or roommate telling you how loudly you snore every night or feeling tired every day.
If your quality of life is affected because of persistent symptoms, including feeling tired every day, it’s time to talk to your doctor.
What oral symptoms indicate sleep apnea?
A dentist may consider sleep apnea if you are experiencing dry mouth or a sore throat when you wake up or an increase in cavities and other oral hygeine issues even though you practice good oral health. These can all indicate mouth breathing at night, which happens when you have sleep apnea and leads to increased bacteria in the mouth.
Will my quality of life improve once I’m treated for sleep apnea?
Yes. Once you find the right treatment, you should experience an increase in alertness and ability to focus during the day. Your emotional and mental wellbeing should also improve as you get better sleep. Your risk of complications like heart attack and stroke will also decrease with high-quality sleep.
Schedule an Expert Consultation For Sleep Apnea with Atlanta Smiles
Sleep apnea can disrupt your life and your well-being. At Atlanta Smiles, our dentists are trained to identify and treat sleep apnea in conjunction with other members of your healthcare team. Come in for a consultation today if you think you may have sleep apnea and talk to one of our caring providers about a take home sleep test to diagnose Sleep Apnea.