Sleep Apnea (Old)

• One of the most common sleep disorders
• Breathing is impaired (hypopnea) or completely stopped (apnea) due to an obstruction in the airway
• Apnea is a cessation of airflow of 10 seconds or more
• Hypopnea may also occur and it is at least a 30% decrease in airflow lasting 10 seconds or greater with oxygen desaturations greater than or equal to 4%

Snoring
Snoring is a partial airway obstruction that reduces airflow but does not cause arousal from sleep, however snoring is not benign. Snoring causes vibrations that contribute to breakdown of the endothelial lining of the carotid artery.

Why is my dentist talking to me about my sleep?
Many early signs and symptoms of OSA manifest themselves in your dentition and oral cavity. It can be a major contributing factor in recession, periodontal disease and inflammation. Your dental team at Hymas Family Dental has taken many course hours to aid us in screening your airway. We offer the latest technology, called ECCOVISION, that uses sound waves to map both your nasal and oral airways.