Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. Episodes, called apneas, last long enough so that one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common category of sleep-disordered breathing. The muscle tone of the body ordinarily relaxes during sleep. And since, at the level of the throat, the human airway is composed of walls of soft tissue . which can collapse . it is easy to understand why breathing can become obstructed during sleep. Mild, occasional sleep apnea, such as many people experience during an upper respiratory infection, may not be important. However, chronic, severe obstructive sleep apnea requires treatment to prevent sleep deprivation and other complications. The most serious complication is a severe form of congestive heart failure called cor pulmonale.

A dentist specializing in sleep disorders can prescribe oral appliance therapy (OAT). The oral appliance is a custom-made mouthpiece that shifts the lower jaw forward, which opens up the airway. OAT is usually successful in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. OAT is a relatively new treatment option for sleep apnea in the United States, but is much more common in Canada and Europe.

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PatientFYI: A Pedodontist is a dentist specialized in handling children. This helps prevent the fear in a child’s mind that is often created by seeing the complex equipment, including drills and various tools (plus, hearing loud noises in the dental office). The Pedodontist is specially trained to win the child’s confidence, making the child aware of the responsibility of looking after his or her teeth — and the importance of a healthy mouth.

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Endodontists specialize and limit their practice to root canal therapy (diseases of the tooth pulp as well as the tissues surrounding the root of the tooth) and root canal surgery. They use their special training and experience to treat difficult cases that are referred to them by general dentists, who opt not to perform these cases. This happens particularly when teeth have narrow or blocked canals, or unusual anatomy.

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