15
Nov
Why is a Dentist screening for sleep apnea?
A common question we get is “Why is my dentist asking me about how I sleep?”
The short answer is because we care about your overall health and not just your mouth.
The long answer has a few parts.
1. Dr. Eagar first became interested in treating sleep apnea because his wife would frequently fall asleep at stoplights! Scary, right? She was tested for sleep apnea but her AHI score was under 5 so she was told she was fine and didn’t need treatment. Dr. Eagar wanted to help his wife. He researched the topic and started to attend courses on sleep apnea.
2. Dentists are in a prime position to screen for sleep apnea, in a lot of cases, patients see their dentist more regularly than their primary care doctor.
3. A dentist treats your mouth which is the opening of your airway.
If your dentist isn’t screening you, here are a few questions to ask at your next appointment.
- “Do you see signs that I grind my teeth?”
- “Do you see signs of lingual erosion of my upper teeth?”
- “Do I have a scalloped tongue?”
- “What is my Mallampati score?”
- “Do I have a large tongue?”
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Dr. Bryce Eagar
Dr. Bryce Eagar completed his undergraduate studies at the College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada in Las Vegas and attended dental school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He joined the Minnesota National Guard while in dental school and later transferred to the New Mexico National Guard. He retired from the US Army Reserves as a Major after serving for 13.5 years.
Dr. Eagar’s journey to becoming a biological dentist started with his and his family’s health. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health and a member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology and the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine.
Dr. Matthew D. Geddes
Dr. Matthew D. Geddes earned his BS in Zoology and Chemistry from Weber State University and his DDS from Dalhousie University dental school (in 2006). He has worked as an associate and owner of a general dentistry practice. He is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a Fellow and Diplomate of the American Orthodontic Society. Dr. Geddes began learning about sleep and TMJ dentistry in 2018, which prompted him to enter the area of biological dentistry.