Do you find yourself snoring or waking up throughout the night?  Are you fatigued throughout the day? Do you have high blood pressure? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you may have a condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by the repeated collapsing of one’s airway during their sleep. These pauses in breathing can occur 5-30 times or more per hour for up to a minute each time. This not only prevents restful sleep, but can also be associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke, and heart failure.

Sleep apnea can affect the heart and blood pressure due to oxygen levels in the blood dropping when breathing stops. The body responds by releasing epinephrine, which is a stress hormone. When this stress hormone remains high, it can cause high blood pressure and heart failure, increase the risk for strokes and cause heart arrhythmia.

Your dentist plays a crucial role in the treatment of sleep apnea. Research has shown that patients experiencing sleepn apnea episodes can grind and wear the teeth causing significant damage to the masticatory system and TMJ`s. An oral appliance can be fabricated to improve your sleep and re-vitalize your health. The oral appliance fits like a mouth guard and supports the jaw in a forward position which helps maintain an open airway. Many patients prefer an oral appliance compared to a C-PAP (continuing positive airway pressure) machine due to comfort, it’s easy to wear, quiet, portable, and easy to care for. Using an oral appliance can help you feel like a new person. Be sure to ask our doctors at Carlisle Dental Studio if a sleep appliance could work for you!