Sleep Apnea Treatment

Airway health dentistry focuses on improving breathing in conjunction with oral health. In many cases, the way that your teeth are positioned and your bite can affect the upper airway.

This may result in conditions that can prevent you from breathing fully, especially while you sleep. Sleep apnea is one of the most common breathing conditions that result in short cessations of breathing while sleeping.

Book an Appointment to Get Started

If you have sleep apnea or other airway health problems, call our Cypress dental office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Logan. If your child is experiencing any of the symptoms noted above and think they might benefit from Healthy Start for Kids, a helpful staff member will be happy to arrange an appointment to answer your questions. 

Airway Health Dentistry

Upper Air Resistance Syndrome (UARS)

Why is airway health dentistry needed?

Airway health dentistry focuses on finding the root cause of your breathing problems and correcting them using a variety of methods. For sleep apnea and other breathing difficulties, correcting bite and malocclusion problems can have a serious impact on the way that you breathe.

Oral devices that can be worn at night to open up the upper airway are effective at reducing symptoms associated with sleep apnea.

For patients with sleep apnea and other breathing conditions, airway health dentistry is incredibly effective and can restore order to your overall health and wellness. Both adult and pediatric patients can benefit from airway health dentistry because of how effective it can be at improving symptoms of breathing conditions and sleep apnea.

To determine if you’re a good candidate for airway health dentistry as well as subsequent treatment, we will need to schedule you for an exam and consultation with Dr. Lori Logan. She will check for oral health conditions, which may have an impact on your ability to breathe properly.

How do you treat sleep apnea and airway health problems?

You will first come in and have an examination and consultation with Dr. Lori Logan. She will examine your dental bite and other oral conditions that may be affecting your breathing. With the help of an exam, we can create a personalized treatment plan specifically designed to meet your unique needs.

In many cases, an oral device that can be worn at night can help to improve breathing and put an end to sleep apnea symptoms. Other types of treatments involve correcting missing dentition and bite. Both can cause the jaw to sit too far forward or back and interfere with natural breathing patterns.

What is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome?

Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) remains a syndrome that is quite similar to obstructive sleep apnea. In UARS, the soft tissue in the throat becomes relaxed. This relaxed airway reduces the size of the airway, which causes problems with sleeping at night.

The result of this lack of sleep is that the person with UARS has trouble staying awake and alert during the day. UARS is less severe than OSA, but still affects the amount and quality of the sleep a person gets each night.

What are the symptoms of UARS?

The primary symptoms of UARS include:

  • Snoring
  • Fatigue during the day
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Sleep that is not restful or refreshing
  • Awakening from sleep frequently

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule a consultation with Dr. Logan at our Cypress dental office so she can evaluate your needs and make appropriate treatment recommendations.

What methods do you use to treat UARS?

Adults with UARS are typically prescribed a CPAP machine to enable them to both sleep and breathe better. Medical conditions causing the syndrome should be treated, such as losing weight and treating allergies. Other types of treatment for adults with UARS and OSA include oral appliances, positional therapy, and surgery.

Children with UARS and OSA are usually treated with surgery. The child’s enlarged tonsils and adenoids get removed, which generally enables them to breathe appropriately at night and sleep through the night. Children with some types of UAS need therapies that include orthodontic treatment, more surgery, and using a CPAP machine.

How can I get an oral appliance to treat UARS?

The oral appliance remains one of the primary treatment methods for UARS. Dr. Lori Logan and our friendly staff are well trained in treating sleep apnea disorders using oral devices. You’ll need to be fitted for this appliance in our office, as each appliance is custom made to fit comfortably over your teeth.

If your doctor recommends an oral appliance to treat your UARS, we can help. Have your healthcare provider contact us or give us a call with your diagnosis. We can recommend the right oral appliance for you to wear at night to help you sleep well.