Different reasons cause sleep disorders. For sleep apnea, in particular, is caused by restricted airways. When the airways collapse, it disturbs the person’s breathing and hence makes the sleep of such person. In this article, we will be delving into the dental sleep medicine that is appropriate for treating this disorder. All you need to know about dental sleep medicine courses, the types of sleep apnea, how it is treated, and their benefits are all written there. Get ready for loads of information.
Table of Contents
What is sleep apnea?
A simple definition is it is a type of sleep disorder. But more elaborately, sleep apnea is a health condition that affects breathing and stops and starts throughout sleep. Anyone facing such a health challenge will have a reduced amount of oxygen flow into the lungs at certain sleep times. Sleep medicine courses for dentists show that if not treated, sleep apnea can eventually lead to stroke, heart diseases, death, and many others.
Types of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea has three types, of which the third one is often not counted among many studies because it combines the other two.
1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
This type of apnea is mostly known and recognized. When the airways of your throat collapse and the muscles relax, OSA occurs. The response to this relaxation is oxygen restriction for more than 10 seconds, which only resumes when the brain sends the signal. This cessation can occur up to 30 times in a night’s sleep.
2. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)
This is similar to the OSA but, in this case, a lot more serious. The CSA occurs when the central nervous system(brain) doesn’t signal to the throat muscles to resume normal breathing. Because of such disruption, the person will have to wake up to correct it, disrupting the overall sleeping cycle.
3. Complex/Mixed Sleep Apnea
This type of apnea combines the OSA and CSA to form a complex apnea.
What is Sleep Medicine for Sleep Apnea?
Sleep medicine for sleep apnea comes in different forms. But the most widely used one to treat various sleep apnea cases is oral appliances. Depending on the dentist’s examination and the Sleep Medicine Course for Dentists the appliance can also differ. Ultimately, every treatment will follow the diagnosis of the sleep apnea case.
However, the oral appliance that is an option is always made to be custom fit. The dentist first does a thorough examination of the teeth and airways. Then an impression of the teeth is made to be used as a model for the appliance. After it is crafted, the patient will wear it at night to prevent the airways from closing up, which causes apnea to occur. If the appliance isn’t made to fit, it can cause more damages than just sleep apnea to dental health.
What are the common signs of Sleep Apnea?
Many people experience sleep apnea every day, but they ignore the possible aftermath because they feel it is a regular sign of sleeping when stressed. If you have some or all of these signs, you must check with a health professional. Check with your physician and dentists to have the necessary sleep medicine training for dentists you need.
- Intermittent night waking
- Early morning headaches
- Noisy snores
- Daytime drowsiness and fatigue
- Dry mouth and sore throats
- Nighttime difficulty to sleep.
- Anxiety
Benefits of treating sleep apnea
If properly treated, all the signs of sleep apnea will go away, and more benefits are guaranteed.
- Possibility of falling into depression will be reduced
- Lower risk of having some health-related diseases
- Lower risk of dying
- Reduces diabetes acquisition and help diabetes patient manage the condition better
- Lower the chances of getting cancer
Conclusion
Hopefully, if you were not enlightened before about dental sleep medicine courses or sleep apnea treatment, this article has given you adequate info. Whether you are a dentist or not, it is crucial for you to know about these sleep medicine training for dentists and prevent many health issues. Remember, health is wealth.
