A bed partner can observe the breathing pauses. However, the best way to tell if you have sleep apnea is to come to our clinic for diagnostic tests.

There are three main types of sleep apnea as follows:

• Central sleep apnea: This happens because the brain does not send the right signals to muscles that support breathing. It will cause you to stop breathing for short periods during sleep, making you quickly awaken and gasp for breath.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: This happens when the throat muscles relax during sleep, reducing the size of your airway.
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome: This happens when an individual has obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea at the same time.

Several factors increase your risk of developing sleep apnea. These include:

• Obesity: Slim people can develop sleep apnea, but obesity increases the risk because fat deposits around the upper airway can lead to obstructions in breathing.
• Thick neck: Thicker necks can lead to narrower airways.
• Narrow airways: Tonsils or adenoids in airways can obstruct breathing and cause sleep apnea.
• Women: Women are three times more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea compared to men.
• Age: As people grow older, they have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. This is why sleep apnea is prevalent among Canadian adults.
• Nasal congestion: People who (for any reason) struggle to breathe through the nose are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.
• Genetics: You have a high risk of developing sleep apnea if your family has a history of the condition. 
• Alcohol and drug use: Using these substances before going to bed can cause the muscles in your throat to relax during sleep.
• Smoking: Smoking or vaping increases inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway. So, smokers are three times more likely to develop sleep apnea.
• Heart disorders: Problems like congestive heart failure increase the risk of central sleep apnea.
• History of stroke: People who have suffered a stroke have a higher chance of developing central sleep apnea

There are different dental signs that can show you have sleep apnea. So, a dentist can help diagnose sleep apnea. A dentist trained in oral sleep appliances can also help you treat sleep apnea using specialized dental appliances.

Ignoring sleep apnea symptoms comes with different side effects. These include:

• Waking up to a sore throat or dry mouth
• Waking up feeling tired even after sleeping all night
• Excessive sleepiness during the day
• Increased risk of motor-related injuries
• Difficulty concentrating and memory loss
• Irregular heartbeat, hypertension, and heart failure
• Depression
• Type 2 diabetes
• Chronic acid reflux
• Decreased overall well-being

Sleep apnea can lead to several life-threatening conditions, such as stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, and diabetes. So, while sleep apnea itself will not kill you, it can cause problems that can kill you.

Your life expectancy significantly reduces when you have a problem that can kill you. Since sleep apnea can lead to life-threatening conditions (like heart disease and high blood pressure), untreated sleep apnea jeopardizes your life.

Yes, dental appliances work for sleep apnea. They can move your jaw forward to increase the size of your upper airway. This allows air to pass through freely, preventing the muscles in your throat from over-relaxing and collapsing to cause sleep apnea.

Boil and bite appliances do not fit like custom-made appliances, so they do not effectively reposition your jaw to free up your airway. Thus, these DIY appliances are not effective for sleep apnea. In fact, they can worsen the problem or create entirely new problems.

The most effective treatment for sleep apnea depends on the cause and severity of the problem. However, sleep mouthguards made by a dentist trained in oral sleep appliance therapy (particularly mandibular advancement techniques) are usually very effective.

A CPAP machine makes your mouth dry out faster during sleep, and a dry mouth increases the chances of getting more cavities. So, a CPAP machine can increase the chance of tooth decay.

Yes, we accept assigned insurance proceeds. We also accept cheques, Visa, Mastercard, AmEx (American Express), and debit.

You do not need a doctor’s referral to reach us. However, it is best to know your family physician, so we’ll furnish them with a copy of the initial consultation for your files.
You can contact us at any time to set up an appointment. Simply call our office at 403-253-1248. Alternatively, contact us via email (info@macleodtraildental.ca) or our online form, and we’ll contact you directly to set up an appointment.