Sleep Apnea and Snoring Q & A

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions regarding the TAP® appliance taken from the Airway Management, Inc. website, the manufacturer of the appliance Dr. Williams uses for his patients with sleep apnea and snoring.

What is the disorder for which I am being treated?

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) includes an array of breathing problems during sleep. Snoring, difficulty with breathing, and interrupted breathing are included. It is caused by the inappropriate collapse of the airway during sleep.

Snoring is an inspiratory noise produced by vibration of the soft parts of the throat walls. It is a partial airway obstruction.

Apnea is cessation of breathing for more than 10 seconds at a time.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep with an arousal (waking up).

Sleep disordered breathing is a spectrum of severity based on the collapsibility of the airway. Symptoms increase due to the increase in the disruption of airflow.

What are the potential consequences to me if I don’t pursue treatment?

Short and long term potential consequences of sleep disordered breathing can be divided into four categories:

Relational
Functional and Behavioral
Medical
Cardiovascular

Relational consequences may include irritability, personality changes, decreased sex drive, loss of intimacy, and clashes with the bed partner (spousal arousal syndrome).

Functional and behavioral outcomes can be excessive daytime sleepiness, poor memory or clouded intellect, performance decrement, depression, increased appetite, inability to exercise, and becoming more prone to accidents.

Medically, not pursuing treatment may lead to morning headaches, impotence, gastro esophageal reflux, nocturnal bruxism, and mortality. Cardiovascular effects may include high blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, heart attack, stroke, increased cholesterol, and atherosclerosis.

What treatments currently exist and how effectively do they manage this disorder?

Good sleep hygiene, weight loss, and exercise, are some helpful treatments a patient can practice on their own. There are three categories of current treatments options for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA):

Dental
Oral appliances
Medical
Constant Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Surgical
Soft palate surgery
Nasal surgery
Upper and lower jaw surgery
Other

With oral devices, throat structures move out of your air passage, allowing air to flow freely through your throat. With CPAP, a mask over your nose gently blows air into your throat to keep your air passage open.

What are the potential side effects of using oral appliance therapy?

Potential side effects of using an oral appliance include:

Excess saliva
Unconsciously taking the appliance out at night
Tooth or gingival (gum) discomfort
Dislodgement of dental restorations
Minor tooth movement
Muscle or joint discomfort
Allergic reaction to nickel content in the parts
Temporary or permanent bite change

For further information please call our office (972) 981-8653 to schedule a time.  Feel free to browse the Airway Labs website for more information  on the TAP® appliance as well; and as always repost this link so your friends and family can learn about their snoring options too!