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Dr. Javier Trejos - Orthodontist In Panama

East 60 Street Mont Blanc Square, Local # 4
Panama
(+507) 263-0200

COSTA DEL ESTE, Ford Clinic, Plaza Costa del Este. (+507) 223-4742

Sleep Apnea

Currently, 3 variants of this pathology have been identified.

The complete interruption (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) of the air flow due to the occlusion of the airway during sleep, produces an intense snoring with subconscious micro-awakening and ultimately fragments the night's rest; generating multiple inconveniences in the person who suffers it.

To achieve a restful sleep, it is necessary to go through several stages that occur cyclically during the night. 

Bruxism in Panama

The destructuring of the normal architecture of sleep prevents it from reaching deep phases, causing cerebral oxygenation to become deficient; also causing fatigue, daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, cognitive disorders, pharyngeal neuropathies and a deterioration in the quality of life of the patient.

At present, 3 variants of this pathology have been identified: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and mixed apnea. The most common of them is obstructive sleep apnea, which can occur at any age, being frequent in children with specific risk factors such as hypertrophy of the tonsils and / or adenoids. Other patterns that can be identified as risk during childhood or beyond; They are the problems of a very small jaw (mandibular retrognathism), tongue larger than the average size (macroglossia), obesity, abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other substances.

Bruxism in Panama

In orthodontics, cases of sleep disturbances are frequently detected among patients; for which it is necessary to identify the therapeutic options available through intraoral devices that help to correct snoring and apnea. These devices have been designed to modify the anatomy of the upper airways and prevent collapse during nighttime sleep.

Most are made of plastic and cover the teeth of both arches; in certain cases they also keep the tongue in place.

There is a wide variety of these intraoral devices that have been shown to be effective in treating snoring.

Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD) move the jaw forward and keep the airway open. They are easy to handle and are favorably tolerated by the patient; they are comfortable, reversible action and quick to manufacture. There is a wide variety of these intraoral devices that have been shown to be effective in treating snoring. Some additional features that vary by model are:

  • Uni or bi-maxillary: According to its scope and the number of jaws it covers.
  • Fixed or adjustable: Which allow or not adjust to achieve the desired mandibular displacement.
  • Rigid or soft: According to the material from which they have been made.
Bruxism Prevention

Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD) should function naturally without interfering with sleep or altering the shape of the palate or the position of the teeth. Their use should be simple so that anyone can handle them without problems and their size adapted to the patient; allowing the closing of the lips, lateral movements in the temporomandibular joint and the neutralization of snoring.

The test for the study of sleep is called polysomnography and it consists of a series of neurophysiological and cardiorespiratory variables that are measured not only to make the diagnosis, but also to know the severity of the case. Ideally, the efficiency of DAMs should be evaluated with a minimum control polysomnography one month after starting their use; time during which the patient has been able to create the habit and can refer to their satisfaction with the results obtained up to that point.

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