Joseph G. Mirci, D.D.S., M.A.G.D. talks snoring – LIVING WELL Magazine

Posted by LIVING WELL Magazine on December 14, 2011 in Articles, Dental, Local Editions, Medical & Dental, Salt Lake City, Utah

SNORING, or Sleep Apnea

By Joseph G. Mirci, D.D.S., M.A.G.D., Salt Lake City LIVING WELL Magazine

If you snore loudly and often, you may be accustomed to middle-of-the-night elbow jabs.  You may also be sleeping alone and the object of bad jokes. That log-sawing noise that keeps everyone awake comes from effort to force air through an airway that is not fully open. Unfortunately, some of you heavy snorers have a potentially life-threatening disorder called “obstructive sleep apnea.”

Some health experts estimate that almost 40% of the U.S. population have some form of sleep apnea and that half of those afflicted may have a severe condition.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Stedman’s Medical Dictionary defines “apnea” as the absence of breathing. When the cessation of airflow at the mouth and nose occurs for more than 10 seconds, an apnea episode has occurred. If a person experiences 30 or more apnea episodes during a seven-hour sleep period, then they are believed to be suffering from Sleep Apnea.

Signs and Symptoms

The following are some of the signs and symptoms that are indicative of a person who is suffering from apnea.

  • Heavy snoring
  • Gasping or choking during the night
  • Excessive day time sleepiness
  • Frequent arousals during sleep (fragmented sleep)
  • Non-refreshed sleep
  • Restless sleep
  • Morning headaches
  • Nausea
  • Personality changes such as becoming irritable or temperamental
  • Severe anxiety or depression
  • Poor job performance
  • Clouded memory
  • Intellectual deterioration
  • Occupational accidents
  • Impotence
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Bruxing
  • Dry mouth when you awaken
  • Scratchy throat

“How Do I Find Out if I Have This Condition?”

There are physicians who specialize in sleep medicine. You would have an overnight, monitored sleep study to find out if you have obstructive sleep apnea, and if so, the severity of it.

Treatment Options

CPAP:  The continuous positive air pressure machine blows air at a pressure high enough to keep the airway open by wearing a mask over your nose. 

Oral Appliance Therapy: An oral appliance is a small acrylic device that fits over the upper and lower teeth (like an orthodontic retainer or mouth guard). This custom-made dental appliance advances the lower jaw, which moves the base of the tongue forward and opens the airway. This improves breathing and reduces snoring and apnea. The appliance is generally well tolerated by patients. Many people who use a dental appliance are not able to tolerate a CPAP machine, or they use the dental appliance when traveling, camping, hiking, etc.

What Should You Do?

  • If you think you have sleep apnea, go to my website, www.sugarhousedentist.com, and take the Epworth’s test. If you score greater than 10, proceed to get information.
  • Contact a sleep physician for an overnight sleep study.
  • If CPAP does not work for you, contact our office for a consultation where we will review your sleep study and choose an FDA-approved dental appliance to help alleviate your symptoms.

Dr. Joseph G. Mirci, D.D.S., M.A.G.D., and his team are passionate about helping their patients. To learn how they can help you, call 801-487-3836 or visit www.sugarhousedentist.com.