Alexandria, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/06/2014 -- “There are two types of sleep apnea - obstructive and central,” explains Dr. Longman. Snoring and sleep apnea are breathing disorders that occur during sleep due to narrowing or closure of the airway when the muscles relax during sleep. Snoring is caused by partial closure of the airway caused by soft tissue in the back of the throat collapsing. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the airway totally closes many times during the night and can reduce oxygen levels in the body and disrupt sleep. This causes the brain to react to the lack of oxygen by alerting the body to arouse from sleep. “This can occur hundreds of times a night resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness, clenching/grinding of the teeth, myofascial pain, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, reflux, depression, heart attack, stroke, and even death,” states Dr. Longman of Alexandria Old Town Dental.

Central sleep apnea (CSA) is when you repeatedly stop breathing during sleep because the brain temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing. Central sleep apnea is not the same as OSA, which is due to a blockage in the airway. A form of CSA commonly occurs in people with congestive heart failure. Other conditions that can cause or lead to central sleep apnea include: Arthritis and degenerative changes in the cervical spine or the base of the skull, complications of cervical spine surgery, a stroke that affects the brainstem, narcotic-containing painkillers and obesity.

Dr. Longman says, “If you have any signs of sleep apnea including loud snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, sleepiness during the day at work or even while driving, memory or learning problems or feeling irritable all the time, you need to have a sleep study done.” In order to confirm a diagnosis of OSA, a sleep study is required using a polysomnogram in a sleep laboratory or home sleep study (ambulatory). A physician should be the one to diagnose the sleep disorder and then Dr. Longman will work closely together with the physician to establish the best treatment. Treatment options will vary depending on the level of sleep disorder, and close consultation with the treating physician is required.

Getting to know patients and treating them with the most effective cosmetic and restorative methods are what sets Dr. Longman’s successful 40-year-old practice apart from others. He strongly believes that an enthusiastic professional staff caring for patients in a comfortable environment results in the best experience for both patient and dentist. Dr. Longman’s expertise in tooth-saving endodontic therapy has given him a firm grasp of this technique that many general dentists don’t have. He has performed thousands of root canal procedures. He is certified for conscious sedation dentistry and advanced cardiovascular life support and is highly experienced in cosmetic dentistry.

If you are concerned about snoring or suspect sleep apnea or any other sleep disordered breathing problem, contact Dr. Longman at (703) 549-1331 for a consultation and screening.