TCC's pharmacist, Jay Gill, interviews Dr. Sheri Salartash from Dynamic Dental Wellness in Ashburn, VA. In this podcast Dr. Salartash educates us about sleep apnea. Did you know that 80% of patients with sleep apnea are never diagnosed! Some signs the dentist may see when sleep apnea exists are cracked teeth, unusual wear on the teeth, recession around the gums, and jaw pain. These symptoms occur because the person is trying to move the jaw to get the tongue out of the way to breathe. Parents of children with sleep apnea may notice mouth breathing, dark circles under the eyes, and daytime sleepiness. A diagnosis of sleep apnea requires a sleep study, but these can now be conveniently done at home. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to decreased oxygen in the blood stream which causes our vital organs to suffer leading to significant health issues over time. When determining the best course of treatment for sleep apnea it's important to learn the cause of the sleep disorder. It could be a nasal obstruction, an upper airway obstruction, or central apnea which is a neurological issue. Corrective therapies in dentistry aim to ensure the tongue has room to rest in the mouth so that it doesn't block the airway. Appliances or braces are used to expand the palate and jaw width. Tongue tie releases and/or tongue exercises may also be used. Another option for some patients is NightLaze. This is an in-office laser treatment that can activate collagen formation in the soft palate area to lift up the tissue and open the airway. We hope you enjoyed learning more about sleep apnea and holistic dentistry. You can learn more about Dr. Salartash's practice at https://dynamicdentalwellness.com/
