Sleep Apnea
Better Sleep Starts With Understanding Your Airway
A good night’s sleep plays an important role in your overall health and well-being. If you regularly snore, wake feeling tired or find yourself struggling with daytime fatigue, your sleep may be affected by more than just a busy schedule.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder that occurs when the airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. These interruptions can affect the quality of your sleep and, when left untreated, may have important implications for your overall health.
At Cornell Dental Centre, we take a dental and airway-focused approach to sleep health, helping patients recognize potential signs of sleep-disordered breathing and explore appropriate treatment options.
Snoring Isn’t Always Sleep Apnea
Snoring is common and does not necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. However, loud or persistent snoring—especially when accompanied by pauses in breathing, gasping or choking during sleep—can be a sign that further evaluation is needed.
Other possible signs may include:
- Excessive daytime tiredness or sleepiness
- Morning headaches or dry mouth
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Restless or disrupted sleep
- Waking up gasping or choking
- Observed pauses in breathing during sleep
- Feeling unrefreshed despite getting enough hours of sleep
- Mood changes or irritability
Sometimes, a bed partner is the first person to notice these symptoms.
How Can a Dentist Help?
Your oral health and airway are closely connected. As part of your assessment, we can look for factors that may contribute to airway obstruction and discuss whether further sleep evaluation may be appropriate.
For patients who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or certain forms of sleep-disordered breathing, oral appliance therapy may be an appropriate treatment option. These custom dental devices are designed to help reposition the jaw and/or tongue during sleep to support a more open airway.
Treatment recommendations are individualized, and we work within the appropriate medical and dental care pathway to help ensure you receive the right treatment for your needs.
Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep
If snoring, fatigue or disrupted sleep is affecting you—or your partner—don’t simply dismiss it as part of getting older or being busy.
Our Markham dental team can help you understand the signs of sleep apnea, discuss your concerns and determine the appropriate next steps.
Better sleep can start with a conversation.
Contact Cornell Dental Centre to learn more about sleep apnea and airway-focused dental care.
