Sleep medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sleep-related disorders. Sleep medicine specialists treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy, periodic limb movement disorder, sleepwalking, teeth grinding, sleep talking, nightmares, REM behavior disorder, and other sleep-related conditions.

What is sleep medicine?

Dr. Jones is a board certified dentist who is trained to treat patients with sleep disorders such as snoring and sleep apnea by using oral appliances like the snore guard or night guard. A snore guard can be worn by patients while they are sleeping to help them breathe better at night and prevent loud, disruptive snoring. These devices look similar to a sports mouthguard but offer both comfort and improved breathing. Patients with jaw pain can also benefit from wearing a customized night guard that will prevent teeth grinding at night. These guards are made from clear plastic materials and fit comfortably over the teeth and jaws. By wearing this device while sleeping, patients can alleviate jaw pain and help prevent long-term damage to the teeth and gums.

In addition to treating patients who need help managing their snoring and sleep apnea symptoms, Dr. Jones also treats patients who have difficulty sleeping due to chronic pain. Pain can keep a patient awake all night, causing fatigue and exhaustion the next day. Chronic pain can also cause the body to have trouble relaxing enough to fall asleep. For these patients, Dr. Jones may recommend medications or other treatments to help them manage their insomnia symptoms so they are able to sleep better and feel more rested throughout the day.

Patients who are interested in receiving a snore guard or night guard should call their local dental office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jones today.

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Author Bio: Alicia Bodine has a master's degree in health communication with an emphasis in online health and is passionate about educating the public about dentistry. She wrote this article with the expertise of a local dentist and dental staff.

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Obstructive sleep apnea

Nearly one out of four patients in the United States has obstructive sleep apnea, according to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. It’s a serious condition that requires treatment to prevent conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. In addition to visiting the dentist regularly to treat gum disease, it’s important that patients visit their physician if they suspect that they have sleep apnea. This helps ensure that they receive the appropriate treatment and that it doesn’t interfere with their oral health efforts in any way.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues of the mouth fall into the airway during sleep, causing it to close partially or completely. The brain senses the drop in oxygen and sends a signal to the body to wake up so that it can reopen the airway. This can happen multiple times in a single night, preventing a patient from getting enough sleep to feel rested the next day. As a result, many patients with obstructive sleep apnea feel sleepy during the day and experience other side effects such as depression, irritability, and memory loss. It’s important to seek treatment for this condition to avoid these and other complications.

In many cases, lifestyle changes can help treat obstructive sleep apnea. This may include losing weight, drinking less alcohol, and avoiding sleeping on one’s back. However, many patients benefit from the use of a CPAP machine while sleeping. This device blows pressurized air into the nasal passages to keep breathing passages open. Unfortunately, CPAP machines can be uncomfortable for patients to use, and the masks they use are often bulky and make it difficult to talk or eat while wearing them.

To address these problems, some patients may opt to use a custom-made oral appliance that fits over the teeth to keep the tongue from blocking the airway. The device is custom-made to fit the patient’s mouth to ensure that the jaw is properly aligned during sleep. This may be a good alternative for those who are unable to tolerate using a CPAP machine. Patients should have their teeth checked by a dentist to make sure that they can safely use an oral device before using it

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea, or CSA, is a type of sleep disorder that occurs due to the brain not signaling the muscles to breathe. These patients often stop breathing for periods of up to one minute at a time during sleep. This can happen as many as 30 times an hour! It’s very common and affects roughly 4% of adults in the United States. This is more commonly seen in men than in women. Some of the symptoms of central sleep apnea include:

- Trouble sleeping at night due to waking up gasping for air

- Frequent nasal congestion or snoring

- A dry mouth upon awakening

- A sore throat in the morning

- Memory problems, forgetfulness, and/or difficulty concentrating during the day

If you experience any of these symptoms, ask your dentist about a referral to a doctor who treats sleep disorders to rule out any other potential causes for your health problems or concerns. Central sleep apnea can often be treated with CPAP therapy, which can be provided by a doctor who specializes in treating people with sleep disorders. It’s recommended that you treat this condition if your oxygen level drops below 90% while you sleep. Otherwise, it can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Treatment with CPAP therapy can improve your overall health and quality of life and is usually covered by most insurance companies. Talk to your dentist for more information about how you can manage your obstructive sleep apnea with an oral appliance.

Insomnia and sleep disorders

People who struggle with insomnia may find relief with an oral appliance. An oral appliance works by keeping the patient’s airway open at night, allowing the sufferer to fall asleep easier and stay asleep through the night. Oral appliances are also ideal for those who snore loudly on a regular basis. (Dental associations recommend a mouthpiece for patients who have a poor response to CPAP therapy.) Snoring often causes sleep disruption for both patients and their bed partners. For patients who experience chronic snoring, a dentist may recommend a night-time appliance. One type of anti-snoring device is the mandibular advancement splint or MAS, which is worn while the patient is sleeping. The mouthguard-like device pulls the lower jaw slightly forward in order to open the airway in the back of the throat. Another commonly used appliance is the tongue retaining device, which is similar to an orthodontic retainer in that it moves the tongue forward and away from the back of the throat. Some devices work by restricting the tongue’s movement while others move it forward. These appliances help to prevent snoring by opening up the airway. Patients who choose to wear an oral appliance should be mindful not to chew on anything hard while wearing their device. This may cause the device to break or dislodge during sleep. Additionally, patients with crowns, bridges, dentures, or other restorations should have them checked before wearing a device. These devices can negatively affect the stability of these restorations. If a patient experiences excessive jaw pain upon awakening, he or she should speak with a doctor about switching to a different appliance. If symptoms persist for more than three weeks, the doctor may prescribe medication to help the patient get adequate rest. Patients should not wear an oral appliance if they have blocked nasal passages due to allergies or sinus problems. It is also recommended that