The Difference Between Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Over the last couple of months I have received a lot requests for more information on snoring/ sleep apnea and how a dentist can help.  Dentist with specialized training in sleep disorders can make oral appliances that can help with people suffering with snoring or sleep apnea.  There are a number of different devices that try to do the same basic thing.  All of these fall under the name Oral Appliance Therapy.  

Snoring

Snoring is caused by a partially blocked airway from the relaxed muscles and soft tissues of your throat and neck.  The soft tissues begin to vibrate making a sound like a trombone or a train.  There are some people who have had their snore levels measured and were found to be as loud as jet engines.  How does this effect others.  Some people’s neighbors have called the police to complain about the noise.  In a study done by the Mayo Clinic, researchers found that snorers cause their partners to lose about 1 hour of sleep per night on average.  Recent studies have shown that repeated breaks in sleep patterns can cause an impairment of motor skills.  This can sometimes be even worse than if you were legally drunk.  

Sleep Apnea

Snoring can be an indication of much more serious medical condition called sleep apnea.  This occurs when the person stops breathing for over 10 second at least 5 times per hour.  Why is this bad?  Our brain and the rest of our body needs oxygen to heal and replenish our cells.  Decreased oxygen thoughout the night can lead to serious health risks including: heart disease, stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, difficulty concentrating and poor job performance.

Treatments

The main treatment for patients with sleep apnea is a CPAP.  It is a mask that goes over your nose and blows air into your airway.  This allows you to breath throughout the night.  While the CPAP is extremely effective, it has a relatively poor compliance rate.  About 50% of patients prescribed the CPAP have difficulty using the machine to the point that they don’t use it.  If you’re not using it, you won’t get any of the benefits.  What are alternatives?  

Oral Appliances

Oral appliances have become a first-line therapy for the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea according to a recent article in “Sleepmatters” published by the National Sleep Foundation.  Also, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine(AASM) published new parameters in the journal Sleep in February 2006. The new parameters state that oral appliances are recommended for treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea in patients who prefer them or do not respond to CPAP. At the same time, the AASM still recommends CPAP as first line treatment for severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea before considering oral appliances.  The advantage of the oral appliance is that they are easier to get used to and they are highly portable.

What does the oral appliance do?

The goal of an oral appliance is to shift your lower jaw forward in order to open your airway.  This helps stop snoring and in many cases sleep apnea as well.  There are many types of oral appliances.  Some are better than others.  The better ones allow you to find the best position to keep the airway open.  They also allow adjustment so the comfort and effectiveness can be fine tuned if necessary

For further information on sleep apnea and its treatment (and a great video), go to www.sleepapneanj.net or you can call our office.

Please send any questions that you would like answered in future issues or comments to me at:  The Journal PO Box 432 Colts Neck, NJ 07722 or email them to me at Mike@DrBixby.com. Your name will not be used in the article. This article is meant for informational purposes only.  Please contact your dentist or our office, if you desire dental advice.

Michael J. Bixby, DMD, FAGD is a General, Cosmetic and Neuromuscular/TMJ Dentist, practicing at the Atlantic Center for Advanced Dentistry in Little Silver.  He can be reached at: 732-224-1160, Mike@DrBixby.com or www.CosmeticDentists-NJ.com