Airway

Waking up frequently to find yourself gasping for air may cause you to panic, but you might not think of it as a long-term issue affecting your health. At Ueno Center Dental Specialists in Campbell, California, serving San Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatos and surrounding areas, the team can identify if you have an obstructed airway and, with a team approach, help you get the proper treatment to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, among many other diseases. To learn more about obstructive sleep apnea and other airway issues, call Ueno Center Dental Specialists or book an appointment online today.

What is my airway?

Your airway is the passage between your lungs, nose, and mouth that allows you to breathe. As you breathe, oxygen flows through your nose or mouth, down your trachea, and to your lungs, where your blood absorbs it. 

If your airway is obstructed at any point, it can affect this process and inhibit your body’s ability to get enough oxygen to function well. An airway obstruction can be minor and temporary or linked to a long-term condition that needs treatment. At Ueno Center Dental Specialists, the team treats several conditions affecting your upper airway that impede your breathing. 

What types of dental conditions can obstruct my airway?

The team at Ueno Center Dental Specialists is part of a team that treats obstructive sleep apnea, a common yet dangerous condition affecting the way you breathe at night. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, the tissues in your throat collapse when you relax and fall asleep. It stops you from getting the oxygen you need at night and often results in loud snoring. 

Other symptoms that you might not immediately link to sleep apnea are:

• Sleepiness during the day
• Trouble falling asleep at night
• Waking up a lot
• Morning headaches
• High blood pressure

Untreated sleep apnea can put you at a greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and other serious conditions because of the lack of oxygen in your blood. Thankfully, obstructive sleep apnea and conditions that affect your airway are possibly treatable with the right approach.

How are airway obstructions resolved?

At Ueno Center Dental Specialists, the team uses imaging techniques like CT scans to view the soft tissue in your airway and find the obstruction. They use this information to determine the best course of treatment to open your airway. 

One treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea is a customized snore guard. Your dentist takes impressions of your mouth to craft a snore guard that fits perfectly and holds your lower jaw forward at night. This keeps your airway open and free of blockage.

In advanced cases of an obstructed airway, the team may recommend oral surgery or ENT surgery to physically remove some of the tissue closing your throat or even restricting your tongue.

In many cases or sleep apnea, orthodontics, and myofunctional therapy may be necessary, and the Ueno Center team will refer you to the proper specialists to ensure the best care.

If you find yourself having trouble breathing, especially while you sleep, call Ueno Center Dental Specialists or book an appointment online to learn more about your treatment options.