Snoring / Sleep Apnea Treatment in Park City, UT
What is Sleep Apnea and how can it affect me?
Sleep disordered breathing encompasses everything from snoring to full blown sleep apnea. It is important to note that not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone with sleep apnea is snoring or making loud noises when sleeping. Also of importance is understanding sleep disordered breathing conditions of varying severity “in between” snoring and apnea, such as Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), and Hypopnea. These conditions can still have a significant impact on a persons quality of sleep and, as a result, health and well being.
Sleep apnea is commonly categorized as mild, moderate or severe based on standardized perameters. We now understand that patients with sleep study scores that fall below the “mild” apnea classification can still be falling victim to symptoms which are having a negative impact on their day to day lives.
Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea can include waking up with headaches, excessive clenching/grinding and tooth wear, daytime sleepiness, impaired brain function, mood disorders, diabetes, reflux, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, chronic heart failure and increase risk for stoke. When severe enough, the research tells us that sleep disordered breathing can cut a persons remaining years of life in half!
One in three adult males and one in five adult females suffer from sleep apnea. It affects people of all shapes and sizes and although excess weight can be a contributor, it is not the only factor. There is a common misconception that apnea solely affect obese males, but the reality is that we find it frequently in thin health conscious female as well. There is a strong argument that every adult should be screened with an in-lab or at-home study, but certainly any person identified with risk factors should be tested.
If you believe you may suffer from sleep apnea in Park City UT and surrounding areas, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Snoring & Snoring Treatment
Almost half of adults snore on a regular basis. Snoring occurs when air flow is blocked as it goes past relaxed tissues in your throat causing them to vibrate. As you doze off and progress from a lighter sleep to a deep sleep, the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat relax. The tissues in your throat can relax enough that they vibrate and may partially obstruct your airway. The more narrowed your airway, the more forceful the airflow becomes. Tissue vibration increases, and your snoring grows louder. Snoring may be an occasional problem, or it may happen every night.
Many people think the most serious problem with snoring is for the person that is trying to sleep next to the snorer. But snoring, especially loud and frequent snoring may indicate a much more serious health condition such as sleep apnea. Heavy snorers are also more likely to suffer a heart attack while asleep than non-snorers. Blood pressure changes caused by snoring may lead to blockage of the coronary arteries and increase the risk of heart disease.
If you or a loved one suffers from chronic snoring in Park City UT and surrounding areas and are interested in snoring treatment options, contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
How Do I Know if I have sleep apnea?
At Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry in Park City, Dr. Paul Peterson and his team screen every patient for signs that may indicate a need to investigate further. This includes a Mallampati and tongue tie evaluation, hard tissue exam for evidence and excessive wear and erosion, Epiworth sleepiness form completion, bed partner survey and a review of your health history with personal discussion for common symptoms that accompany sleep disordered breathing.
When risk factors are identified, they then discuss options for obtaining a more concrete diagnosis. This may involve a polysomnogram (PSG) sleep study performed in a sleep lab, or sometimes a diagnostic home sleep test (HST) done on a Medibyte home recorder. In the later scenario, the test in done in your home with a sophisticated system and the results are sent to a Sleep Physician for interpretation and diagnosis with recommendations for treatment. Every person and situation is unique and Dr. Peterson and his team will take the time to help you determine the best course of action your unique individual situation.
What snoring & sleep apnea treatment options are available?
After an objective diagnosis is achieved, a customized treatment plan is made for each patient. This may involve a CPAP machine, positional therapy, referrals to other health care specialists, myofunctional therapy, tongue tie release, or a physiologic approach to making a MAD (mandibular advancement appliance). Another treatment option is NightLase , which aids in the development of the maxilla (upper jaw) though forward thinking orthodontic techniques that rejuvenates the collagen in the tissues of the back of the throat using our amazing Fotona Lightwalker ATS Er:Yag LASER. All of these treatment options help the patient maintain a healthy airway as they sleep at night.
Besides these treatments, lifestyle changes may help to reduce snoring, as well. Alcohol consumption, especially before bedtime, is a large contributor to snoring. It is best not to consume any alcohol three hours prior to bedtime. Smoking, not getting enough sleep, and a poor diet all contribute to snoring as well. For some people, simply avoiding sleeping on their back will help prevent snoring.
Oral Appliances
The most successful option is usually the use of oral appliances. These are similar to small mouth guards. They are worn on the top and bottom teeth and advance the jaw forward or they help keep the tongue from falling backwards. There are over 100 FDA-cleared oral appliance models. Dr. Peterson has found great success with the MicrO2 oral appliance, which employs a physiologic approach that addresses both the patient’s sleep apnea along with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), which is present in 60-80 percent of sleep apnea patients.
Rejuvenation of Tissues in the Back of the Throat
Dr. Peterson also can rejuvenate the sagging tissues in the back of the throat using fractional laser technology. This laser energy creates hundreds of microscopic channels in the skin. The body responds with a wound response, even though the channels fully heal within just a few hours. This response is to produce new collagen to send to “heal” the wounds. This new collagen tightens the sagging skin.
Surgery
Surgery is usually the last resort. Not performed by Dr. Peterson, here a specialist removes sagging tissue in the back of the throat that is causing airway obstruction.
Jaw Development
For some patients, Dr. Peterson employs the Controlled Arch™ Orthodontic system to develop the jaw to its natural, genetic potential. Aided by 3-D imaging and a team of Maxillofacial radiologist at the Facial Beauty Institute a customized plan is made for each unique individual. NOT ONLY a widening an arch, but developing them forward. The maxilla and mandible are developed in ways only previously possible with invasive surgery. This development does far more than correct overcrowded smiles, it opens the airway, addressing the cause of the majority of sleep apnea. These narrow, crowded mouths are often the result of traditional orthodontic work earlier in the patient’s life that simply aimed to straighten the teeth, often removing four bicuspid teeth to do so.
Positional Therapy
Some patients only have sleep apnea when they sleep on their back. Here positional therapy can be effective. Whether through formal devices that keep the patient on his or her side, or something as simple as a tennis ball placed on the back of the patient’s nightshirt, the goal is to keep the patient off their back at night.
Weight Loss
For overweight patients, simply losing weight can correct their sleep apnea. For these patients, weight loss is the first treatment approach, as losing weight may cause the tissue in the back of the throat to tighten so it no longer sags at night.
How do I know who to look to for help?
The most advanced education in treating Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) without the use of a C-PAP machine is happening at The Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies. LVI has long been at the forefront of advancement and innovation in the field of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). Studies released in 2016 show results comparable to PAP machines with Micro02 oral appliances when records are taken with BioPak myomonitors and a neuromuscular approach as taught at LVI and used by Dr. Peterson. We understand that there is an 60-80% correlation between those that present with the conditions associated with TMD and those that suffer from SDB. Often times the same things that happened to a patient causing their predisposition to TMD are the reasons they suffer from SDB. This unique understanding has allowed LVI to develop the most advanced and successful methods for helping suffers from SDB.
Dr. Paul Peterson is a Fellow with LVI. An honor he earned after hundreds of hours of continuing education and passing a rigorous exam to test his complete understanding of the principles of successful treatment. He has been helping patients with apnea and sleep disordered breathing for over 10 years. His unique training and understanding will help you achieve the best results available. Come in for a consultation or send in that bed partner keeping you awake at night, you won’t be disappointed!
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Sleep Apnea Appliances FAQs
Why does CPAP sometimes not work for a patient? »
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most common treatment used for obstructive sleep apnea. But it’s not for everyone. CPAP requires the patient to wear a mask over the nose that is attached to tubes that link to the CPAP machine. The CPAP machine then delivers a constant flow of airway pressure to your throat to ensure that your airway stays open during sleep.But adherence to CPAP is only about 50 percent, with the remainder being what is known as “CPAP failure.” CPAP failure is really CPAP intolerance leading to the person not using the system.
The main reasons a person can’t use CPAP are:
- Can’t sleep with mask on
- Claustrophobic feeling from mask
- Mask causes skin irritation or sores
- Tubes make rolling over virtually impossible
- Lack of humidity causes dry mouth, dry throat, other nasal problems
- Nasal abnormalities such as a deviated septum
- Problems with upper palate
- Daily congestion caused by season allergies
Are sleep appliances effective in treating sleep apnea? »
How do sleep appliances work? »
Who is a candidate for a sleep apnea appliance? »
This depends on the degree of your sleep apnea. At Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Peterson has found excellent success with oral appliances when he incorporates some of his TMD training from the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies when helping the patient find the right appliance.However, severe sleep apnea patients usually cannot get enough relief with only an oral appliance.
How do I choose the right sleep apnea device? »
Advanced Cosmetic Dentistry proudly provides Park City, Salt Lake City, Duchesne, Vernal, Midway, Heber UT and the surrounding areas with comprehensive snoring and sleep apnea treatment options. Call today for your consultation at (435) 503-8841 or complete a Contact Form here!
