Sleep Apnea
If you snore loudly or wake up feeling fatigued, you may suffer from a serious condition called sleep apnea. Drs. Charles and Patrick Casey in Montreal, QC, provide obstructive sleep apnea treatment, allowing you to sleep soundly once again.
Find out how our highly trained team can address your sleep disorder and improve your quality of life.
About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing patterns are interrupted during sleep. This cessation of breath can occur hundreds of times a night. Unfortunately, this is sometimes the catalyst for more serious health conditions, including chronic daytime sleepiness, headaches, and even a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
Do I Suffer from Sleep Apnea? Common Symptoms:
Sleep apnea causes your breathing to become shallow or even stop while you sleep. While you may not notice the airflow restriction while you rest, there are several common symptoms characterized by this sleep disorder.
People who suffer from sleep apnea experience a fitful night's sleep, even if they don't know it. If you wake up after a full night's rest feeling fatigued or forgetful, or have trouble concentrating, you may be experiencing a lack of restorative sleep.
Snoring occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes and blocks the upper airway. While it’s true that snoring can occur with age and weight gain, it is also indicative of obstructive sleep apnea, and it should not be accepted as an ordinary condition.
Sleep apnea can make you more likely to breathe through your mouth, causing dry mouth. This is often accompanied by a sore throat when awakening. Additionally, bruxism, or teeth grinding, may occur subconsciously to tighten the muscles of your airway when you sleep, preventing the jaw from sliding backward.
When your brain senses an inability to breathe, it will briefly rouse you from sleep in order to reopen your airway. Sufferers may find themselves waking suddenly, having night sweats, or getting up to use the restroom frequently. A loved one may notice interruptions in your breathing, or hear you gasping for air in the night.
You May Not Notice the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea But Your Family Might
Though you may not notice these symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea yourself, your bed partner or family members may express concern over them. Treating your sleep apnea can vastly improve your relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life, in addition to lowering your chances of developing serious disorders like high blood pressure, so be receptive to your family members if they mention your symptoms. We're ready to help you and your loved ones experience the many valuable benefits of restful sleep.
Treating Sleep Apnea Can Improve Your Overall Well-Being
Get the Sleep Your Mind and Body Require Explore Your Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Options With Us
If daytime sleepiness and an inability to focus are starting to be a burden on your work life and relationships, it may be time for you to consider the possibility that you have sleep apnea. Smile Montreal can help you explore treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea like CPAP and oral appliances to improve your sleep and quality of life.
If you're in the Montreal, QC, area, and you think you could benefit from obstructive sleep apnea treatment, we invite you to fill out our contact form or call our Westmount dental office to request a consultation:
Guiding Patients Toward Effective Solutions
Daniele L
2024
Smile Montreal is hands down the best dental clinic I've ever been to. Their office is top-notch, the staff is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and extremely caring. The level of attention they provided to me and addressing my questions and concerns is beyond is exceptional.
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Neal Irvine
2024
Smile Montreal has completely changed how I see dental visits. The warm welcome and exceptional care reflect professionalism and genuine empathy. Their modern facilities and advanced technology ensure top-notch care... Discovering Smile Montreal has been eye-opening; it's about more than just dental health—it's about boosting confidence and well-being with smiles.
View On GoogleWhat to Expect During Treatment
When you schedule a consultation at Smile Montreal, we can screen you for sleep apnea and begin to discuss ways to treat your disorder. Your treatment plan may include:
Sleep Study
In order to screen for sleep apnea, you may need to participate in an overnight sleep study. At Smile Montreal, we utilize Watch-PAT™ technology so patients can perform the sleep study in the comfort of their own home. The Watch-PAT device attaches to your fingers to measure the body's physiological reactions overnight. With this data, we are able to verify whether your symptoms are the result of a sleep disorder.
Diagnosis
After reviewing the results of your screening, Dr. Casey will be able to diagnose your condition and pinpoint your type of sleep apnea. There are three common variations of this sleep disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs when throat muscles or other soft tissue relaxes, blocking the upper airway. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn't send the muscles proper signals to control breathing. You will need to see a specialist if you have central sleep apnea. On rare occasions, we find patients suffer from complex sleep apnea syndrome, which occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Oral Appliances
Treatment at our Montreal practice focuses on freeing the obstructed airway to facilitate healthy breathing. For moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, we usually recommend a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. A continuous positive airway pressure device increases air pressure in your throat through a mask you wear overnight. For patients who are unable to tolerate a CPAP machine, we recommend custom oral appliances. The SomnoMed oral appliance is worn during sleep and resembles an orthodontic retainer. The appliance repositions the lower jaw and pushes it forward, preventing the tongue from blocking the airway to facilitate normal breathing. Sometimes, we combine oral appliance therapy and continuous positive airway pressure for the best results.
Make the Most of Your Treatment Assisting Your Sleep Apnea Treatment in Montreal
While an oral appliance or CPAP can go a long way toward helping you get the peaceful rest you need to function, you can also make some lifestyle changes for more well-rounded treatment. Some lifestyle changes our Montreal dentists may recommend include:
Losing Weight
Obesity can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea. Losing excess weight can help you sleep better and contribute to good overall health. Our dentists may recommend eating a healthy diet and following an exercise regimen.
Avoiding Alcohol
Moderate or heavy drinking can make sleep apnea worse. If you're a heavy drinker, our Montreal dentists may recommend cutting back, especially before bedtime.
Changing Sleep Positions
If you sleep on your back, the soft tissues of your throat are more likely to collapse in your sleep, closing your airways. Our dentists may recommend that you sleep on your side instead to keep your airways open.
"Smile Montreal can help you explore treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea like CPAP and oral appliances to improve your sleep and quality of life."
Still Not Sure You Need a Screening? Use the Epworth Sleepiness Scale
To determine your level of daytime sleepiness, fill out the Epworth Sleepiness Scale below using the following:
0 = would never doze or sleep
1 = slight chance of dozing or sleeping
2 = moderate chance of dozing or sleeping
3 = high chance of dozing or sleeping
If you score a 10 or higher, we recommend consulting our doctors. It may be that you have an underlying sleep disorder, require more adequate sleep, or need to improve your sleep hygiene.
| Situation | Chance of Dozing or Sleeping |
| Sitting and reading | ____ |
| Watching TV | ____ |
| Sitting inactive in a public place | ____ |
| Being a passenger in a motor vehicle for an hour or more | ____ |
| Lying down in the afternoon | ____ |
| Sitting and talking to someone | ____ |
| Sitting quietly after lunch (no alcohol) | ____ |
| Stopped for a few minutes in traffic while driving |
____ |
| Total score (add the scores up) (This is your Epworth score) |
____ |
FAQ About Sleep Apnea
Why should I go to a dentist for sleep apnea treatment?
While a sleep specialist can diagnose sleep apnea, our dentist can, too. Plus, a dentist is a good place to start if you think you have the condition because it can cause dental concerns like chipped teeth and enamel erosion. If you're showing any of these signs of sleep apnea, in addition to behavioral symptoms like moodiness and drowsiness, our Montreal dentists can provide what you need to perform a sleep study from your home.
Will sleep apnea treatment stop my snoring?
It can, as long as your snoring is due to sleep apnea. Snoring happens when the flow of air through your throat is blocked by the soft tissues, causing vibrations. An oral appliance can widen your airways and help the air pass through more easily to reduce snoring.
