Toggle navigation
Southern Oaks Family Dentistry

3904 Highway 86 Easley, SC 29642(864) 850-9100

  • blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
    • Events
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education

Shaquille O'Neal's Slam Dunk Against Sleep Apnea

  • Blog Home
  • Oral+Health
  • Shaquille O'Neal's Slam Dunk Against Sleep Apnea

Shaquille O'Neal's Slam Dunk Against Sleep Apnea

By Southern Oaks Family Dentistry
June 26, 2013
Category: Oral Health
Tags: celebrity smiles   snoring   sleep apnea  
ShaquilleONealsSlamDunkAgainstSleepApnea

You may think snoring is a minor problem, but it can be a lot more than that. Just ask hoops star Shaquille O'Neal, whose rambunctious snoring bothered his girlfriend enough for her to suspect a health problem. Her observations eventually led to Shaq's diagnosis of moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which occurs when the soft tissue structures at the back of a person's throat, including the tongue, partially close off the upper airway and prevent air from moving into the lungs during sleep. Sometimes airflow can be blocked completely for 10 or more seconds.

When air flow is reduced, blood oxygen levels drop. This leads to brief waking episodes known as “micro-arousals,” which can happen sometimes more than 50 times an hour. The sleeper might not even be aware of this, even while gasping for air. Micro-arousals prevent the person from ever reaching deep, restful sleep.

Besides suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness, studies show sleep apnea patients are at higher risks of heart attacks, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, brain damage and strokes. People with sleep apnea also have a higher incidence of work and driving-related accidents.

OSA can be treated in a few different ways. On the advice of his doctor, Shaq opted for a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which generates pressurized air delivered through a face mask worn while sleeping. The force of the pressurized air opens the airway (windpipe) in the same way as blowing into a balloon does.

For people with milder OSA, or who find they can't tolerate wearing a mask during sleep, an oral appliance supplied by a dental professional might be the answer. Oral appliances are worn in the mouth and are designed to gently reposition the jaw and move the tongue forward away from the back of the throat. Success rates of 80% or more have been reported using oral appliances, depending on the severity of the OSA.

If you would like more information on sleep apnea, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more about sleep apnea by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Snoring & Sleep Apnea.” Dear Doctor also has more on “Sleep Disorders & Dentistry.”

0 Comment(s) Permalink

Comments:






Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2021
      • January (3)
        • Hoping to Show Your Smile Again in 2021? Be Sure You're Ready
        • Jimmy Fallon's Daughter Loses a Tooth on National Television
        • 3 Reasons For Preserving a Decayed Baby Tooth
  • 2020
      • December (3)
        • Could a Dental Bridge Be a Better Choice Than Implants?
        • Keep Your New Straightened Smile Straight With an Orthodontic Retainer
        • Vivica Fox and Zendaya Have This in Common: A Gorgeous Smile
      • November (3)
        • A RPD Could Be Your Answer to Replacing Missing Teeth
        • Age Doesn't Have to Stop You From Straightening Your Smile
        • A 'Tooth in a Day' Implant Could Give You a Perfect Smile From Day One
      • October (3)
        • Too Old to Straighten Your Smile? Not If You're Like These A-List Celebrities
        • Preventing Gum Disease Could Help More Than Your Teeth and Gums
        • If You Thought the Last Century Was Amazing for Dental Care, Just Wait
      • September (3)
        • Implants Can Make It Easier to Restore Missing Teeth in Stages
        • Mike Tyson: The Prizefighter Prizes His Unique Smile
        • Your Dentist Could Help You Overcome Sleep Apnea
      • August (3)
        • 2 Kinds of Orthodontic Retainers That Can Protect Your New Smile
        • How to Care for Your Child's Valuable Primary Teeth
        • What's That on Your Teeth, Nick Jonas? How to Avoid a Similar Smile Oops
      • July (3)
        • Have Fun This Summer But Play it Safe for Your Dental Health's Sake
        • Implants Make Dentures More Secure, Comfortable and Bone-Friendly
        • Here Is How We May Be Able to Bring an Impacted Tooth Where It Should Be
      • June (3)
        • NBA Player's Injury Points Out Need for Mouthguards
        • Treating Gum Disease is Good for Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Mouth
        • How to Help Your Child Beat the Odds for Getting a Tooth Injury
      • May (5)
        • 4 Ways to Avoid Dental Disease While Wearing Braces
        • Developing A Good Oral Care Routine
        • Even Celebrities Have Accidents: See What They Do to Restore Their Chipped Teeth
        • Reducing Your Child's Dental Anxiety Now Could Benefit Them for a Lifetime
        • Gum Disease Could be Affecting More Than Just Your Mouth
      • April (4)
        • Practice Daily Hygiene to Avoid Gum Swelling While Wearing Braces
        • The Benefits of Dental Implants
        • Pretty Little Liars' Lucy Hale Crushes on Smiles
        • Change Your Smile for the Better with Porcelain Veneers
      • March (4)
        • Tired of Dental Stains? We Can Help
        • 4 Common Causes for Gum Recession
        • Extracting a Tooth is a Routine Procedure
        • NHL Iron Man Keith Yandle Suffers Dental Trauma on Ice
      • February (3)
        • Take These Steps to Save a Knocked-Out Tooth
        • You May Need Orthodontics Before Replacing a Missing Tooth
        • Veneers May Not Be the Best Option for Your Teenager's Teeth
      • January (4)
        • Rejuvenate Your Smile With Porcelain Veneers
        • Hugh Jackman Is All Smiles for His New Broadway-Inspired Show
        • Like the Pros, the Athlete in Your Family Needs a Mouthguard to Prevent Dental Injuries
        • 4 Things to Do to Keep Your Child's Dental Development on Track
  • 2019
      • December (3)
        • Make Your Baby as Comfortable as Possible During Teething
        • How Veneers Restored Howie Mandel's Winning Smile
        • Stop Bite Problems Early With Interceptive Orthodontics
      • November (3)
        • Teens May Need a Temporary Restoration for Missing Teeth
        • Having Diabetes Could Increase Your Risk of Gum Disease
        • J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
      • October (4)
        • Your Quest for a Dental Implant Might Be Interrupted by Bone Loss
        • Why Choose Dental Implants?
        • Vitamins Can Help Keep Your Oral Health in Top Shape
        • Wearing a Retainer Will Protect Your New Smile After Braces
      • September (3)
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
        • Orthodontics: More Than Straightening a Crooked Smile
        • Your Reoccurring Sinus Infections May Actually Be Caused by Tooth Decay
      • August (3)
        • 3 Ways to Correct Missing Front Teeth
        • Crazy Little Thing Called... Hyperdontia?
        • You Need a Dentist to Remove Tartar From Your Teeth
      • July (3)
        • Tooth Type and Condition can Affect Root Canal Therapy Effectiveness
        • Diabetes Doesn't Have to Stop You From Getting an Implant - if it's Under Control
        • Janet Jackson: Even pop stars get insecure about their smiles!
      • June (3)
        • Be on the Alert for White Spots on Teeth While Wearing Braces
        • Do This for Your Dental Health Before, During and After Cancer Treatment
        • Preserving the Pulp is Priority One with a Newly Erupted Permanent Tooth
      • May (3)
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
        • How Dentists Provide Your Child the Benefit of X-Rays as Safely as Possible
        • Your Teenager's Teeth May Not Be Mature Enough for Veneers
      • April (3)
        • If a Root Canal Can't be Done, this Procedure Might Save Your Tooth
        • Lady Gaga Wasn't "Born This Way?"
        • 3 Things You can Do to Ease Chronic Dry Mouth
      • March (4)
        • What You Should Do to Protect an Older Loved One's Dental Health
        • FAQs on Teeth Whitening
        • Nutrition for the Best Oral Health
        • Healthy Smiles for Alfonso Ribeiro and Family
      • February (3)
        • A Child's Damaged Tooth may require a Different Approach than an Adult's
        • 3 Age-Related Dental Problems and what you can do About Them
        • 4 Things to Avoid if You Want to Support Your Child's Dental Development
      • January (3)
        • Singer Dua Lipa Sees the Wisdom in Postponing Tour Dates
        • 4 Things that can Cause Gum Recession and What to do About Them
        • Your Regular Dental Visits Might Change if You've had Gum Disease
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Don't give up on Flossing!
        • Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
        • Protecting Primary Teeth from Decay Helps Ensure Future Dental Health
      • November (4)
        • Diabetes and Oral Health: True or False?
        • This November, Become a Non-Smoker
        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
        • Common Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures to Overhaul Your Smile
      • October (3)
        • Guide Your Older Children or Teens through These 3 Oral Health Areas
        • Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
        • How to Maximize Your Child's Dental Health Potential
      • September (3)
        • Dental Magic Transforms Smiles
        • Oral Hygiene isn't Easy with Braces - but it's Still Doable
        • FAQs for National Gum Care Month
      • August (4)
        • Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
        • Signs You May Need a Root Canal
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • Back to School Do's and Don'ts
      • July (5)
        • Treating Gum Disease may Require Invasive Procedures
        • Do you need Simple Tooth Removal or Surgery? It Depends on a few Factors
        • The Benefits of Veneers
        • Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
        • Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
      • June (3)
        • Survey Says: They'd Rather Have a Root Canal
        • 3 Common Causes for Chronic Dry Mouth and What You can do About It
        • A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
      • May (3)
        • A Retainer-Like Device can Preserve the Space Left by a Lost Primary Tooth
        • Not a Fan of Using CPAP for Your Sleep Apnea? Consider an Oral Appliance
        • Bone Loss at the Roots can Put Your Tooth in Danger of Loss
      • April (2)
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
        • Bone Loss: the Hidden Consequence of Your Missing Teeth
      • March (2)
        • Periodontal Probing Increases Accuracy in Diagnosing Gum Disease
        • Why the Bottled Variety Might not be Your Best Choice for Clean Drinking Water
      • February (3)
        • Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
        • Dentures Require Planning and Attention to Detail to Look Natural
        • You may Need Orthodontic Work Before Getting a Dental Implant
      • January (2)
        • Hidden Sugar Can Jeopardize Your Health
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • New Saliva Test may Help Identify Oral Cancer Earlier
        • 4 Tips for Avoiding Dental Disease While Wearing Braces
      • November (2)
        • Here is How You can Improve Your Wedding Day Smile!
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
      • October (2)
        • Follow These Common Sense Steps When Your Child has a Toothache
        • FAQs About Children's Dental Development
      • September (2)
        • A Teen with a Missing Tooth May Need to Wait on a Dental Implant
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
      • August (3)
        • Tooth-Healthy Tips for a Summer Barbecue
        • 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
        • Keep an Eye on the Jaw Bone After a Teenager's Tooth Loss
      • July (2)
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
        • 3 Common Sources of Fluoride You Might Not Know About
      • June (2)
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
        • Gum Infection Around Tooth Roots Calls for Immediate Action
      • May (2)
        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
        • Dealing with the Reality of Increased Disease Risk with Braces
      • April (2)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
        • Watch for These Developing Bite Problems with Your Child's Teeth
      • March (3)
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
        • Don't Let Your Loose Tooth Become a Lost Tooth
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
      • February (1)
        • Bonded Retainers Provide a Less Noticeable Option for Keeping Teeth Straight
      • January (3)
        • A Royal Fix
        • Choosing a Screw or Cement to Attach an Implant Crown
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
  • 2016
      • December (2)
        • A Retainer Helps You Keep Your New Smile After Braces
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
      • November (2)
        • Correct a Cross-Bite by Widening the Upper Jaw with an Expander
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
      • October (3)
        • 4 Reasons why Quitting Chewing Tobacco is Good for Your Oral Health
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
        • Custom Oral Appliances Could Help Stop Sleep Apnea
      • September (2)
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
        • Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
      • August (2)
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
        • Keep Your Saliva Flowing - Your Oral Health Depends on it
      • July (3)
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
        • Increase Bone Mass for Dental Implants through Grafting
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
      • June (2)
        • 4 Things You Should be Doing to Maintain a Healthy Mouth
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
      • May (2)
        • There's a Good Reason for Adults to Consider Orthodontics - Better Oral Health
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
      • April (2)
        • 4 Reasons Why You May Need to See a Periodontist for Your Gum Disease
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
      • March (2)
        • Early Intervention can Correct Abnormal Upper Jaw and Palate Growth
        • Chrissy Teigen's Teeth-Grinding Troubles
      • February (2)
        • 'Prepless' Veneers can Transform Your Smile Without Altering Your Teeth
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
      • January (2)
        • Choose a Mouthrinse Carefully if you want to Enhance your Dental Health
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
  • 2015
      • December (2)
        • Mouthguards Reduce Risk of Concussion as well as Dental Injuries
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
      • November (2)
        • Simple or Surgical? Choosing the Right Kind of Tooth Extraction
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
      • October (2)
        • Simple Procedure Could Reduce Biting the Inside of Your Mouth
        • Lamar Odom Rebounds From Dental Anxiety
      • September (3)
        • Know the Facts to Reduce Your Child's Teething Discomfort
        • A Toothless Tiger?
        • Inform Your Dentist if You're Taking Blood Thinners
      • August (2)
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • IV Sedation can help Relax Patients with Acute Dental Visit Anxiety
      • July (2)
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
        • Customized Temporary Crowns Help Ensure a Satisfying Permanent Smile
      • June (2)
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
        • Stains from Within a Tooth Require Professional Whitening
      • May (2)
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
        • Replacing a Back Tooth May Help You Avoid Future Dental Problems
      • April (2)
        • Early Orthodontic Care Helped Child Star Nolan Gould Get Ready for Prime Time
        • Retainers Help you Protect Your Newly Aligned Teeth
      • March (3)
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
        • Teens May Need a Temporary Replacement for Missing Teeth
        • Howard Stern Opens Up - About His Teeth
      • February (1)
        • Bonding with Composite Resins Ideal for Restoring Chipped Teeth
      • January (2)
        • Iron Chef Cat Cora: Protecting Your Children's Teeth Starts Early
        • Take Extra Dental Care Precautions While Undergoing Orthodontic Therapy
  • 2014
      • December (3)
        • Fitness Expert Jillian Michaels Helps Kick Sleep Apnea
        • Do You Need Antibiotics Before Having a Dental Procedure?
        • TV Host Maria Menounos Puts Diabetes in the Spotlight
      • November (2)
        • The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
      • October (2)
        • Oral Piercings: Five Things You Should Know
        • Hugh Jackman's "Shocking" Teeth
      • September (2)
        • Encountering Positive Experiences the Key to Overcoming Dental Anxiety
        • Nancy O'Dell Speaks Out On Her Experiences With Pregnancy Gingivitis
      • August (3)
        • Plan to Keep Your New Hygiene Habit on Track
        • Actress Blythe Danner Is a Leader in the Fight Against Oral Cancer
        • The Sweet and Lowdown on Sugar Substitutes
      • July (1)
        • Take a Lesson From Hockey Player Mike Bossy
      • June (1)
        • Restoring Health and Appearance Through Periodontal Plastic Surgery
      • May (3)
        • Are mouthguards important? Just ask Fitness Expert Jillian Michaels
        • Keep an Eye on Abnormal Tooth Wear
        • 50 Cent Tweets His Dental Exam
      • April (2)
        • What you can do to Reduce Complications After Gum Surgery
        • Kristin Cavallari's "Spaghetti Catcher" - First Step To A Winning Smile
      • March (2)
        • Top 5 Reasons Not to Delay Getting a Root Canal
        • Vanna White Talks Dentistry
      • February (2)
        • Treating Impacted Canine Teeth
        • Actress Florence Henderson: You Are Never Too Old To Straighten Your Teeth
      • January (1)
        • TADs Contribute to Greater Precision During Orthodontic Treatment
  • 2013
      • December (3)
        • Florence Henderson Talks About Preventative Dentistry
        • The Top 5 Things to Know About Orthodontic Retainers
        • Avoiding the Jim Carrey Chipped-Tooth Look
      • November (2)
        • The Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Wear Your Orthodontic Retainer
        • John Stamos, Britney Spears, and How to Relax During Dental Treatment
      • October (3)
        • Keep an Eye on Your Oral Health While Taking Blood Pressure Medications
        • TV Designer Nate Berkus Is Thankful for Childhood Preventive Dental Treatments
        • Non-Vital Bleaching Removes Unsightly Tooth Discoloration From Within
      • September (1)
        • LeAnn Rimes Dental Drama: Emergency Root Canal
      • August (2)
        • Make Oral Healthcare a Priority During Pregnancy
        • Actor Ed Helms' Tooth-Yanking Trick: It Was a Dental Implant!
      • July (1)
        • Retainers: The Final Step to a Great New Smile
      • June (1)
        • Shaquille O'Neal's Slam Dunk Against Sleep Apnea
      • May (3)
        • Gum Disease: Are you at Risk?
        • Actress Katherine Heigl Straightened Her Smile with Invisalign Clear Aligners
        • Welcome to Our Blog

Tags

  • celebrity smiles (84)
  • invisalign (1)
  • clear aligners (2)
  • orthodontics (18)
  • gum disease (14)
  • periodontal disease (2)
  • snoring (4)
  • sleep apnea (5)
  • retainers (9)
  • dental implants (15)
  • oral health (23)
  • pregnancy (2)
  • root canal (5)
  • whitening (1)
  • sealants (1)
  • pediatric dentistry (17)
  • fluoride (2)
  • blood pressure medication (1)
  • retainer (1)
  • chipped tooth (3)
  • cosmetic dentistry (14)
  • dental hygiene (1)
  • tads (1)
  • braces (8)
  • teeth whitening (7)
  • oral hygiene (24)
  • orthodontic treatment (20)
  • periodontal surgery (1)
  • dental exam (2)
  • tooth wear (1)
  • dental injury (9)
  • mouthguards (7)
  • periodontal plastic surgery (1)
  • mouthguard (3)
  • nutrition (5)
  • oral cancer (3)
  • dental anxiety (2)
  • diabetes (4)
  • periodontal (gum) disease (1)
  • medications (1)
  • chipped teeth (3)
  • bonding (2)
  • porcelain veneers (6)
  • removable partial denture (2)
  • bridge (2)
  • partial denture (2)
  • wisdom teeth (5)
  • abscessed tooth (1)
  • crowns (5)
  • sedation dentistry (1)
  • medicine (1)
  • teething (2)
  • oral surgery (1)
  • tooth extraction (2)
  • bad breath (1)
  • mouthrinse (1)
  • veneers (5)
  • teeth wear (1)
  • dental emergency (1)
  • bone grafting (2)
  • salvia (1)
  • tooth decay (4)
  • athletic mouthguards (1)
  • tooth grinding (1)
  • tobacco (1)
  • teeth grinding (1)
  • palatal expander (1)
  • loose teeth (1)
  • pediatric care (1)
  • thumb sucking (1)
  • toothache (1)
  • wedding day smile (1)
  • sugar (1)
  • dentures (2)
  • bone loss (2)
  • missing teeth (1)
  • space maintainer (1)
  • dry mouth (2)
  • tooth pain (1)
  • flossing (1)
  • gum recession (2)
  • apicoectomy (1)
  • x-rays (1)
  • smile makeover (2)
  • dental implant (4)
  • root canal treatment (1)
  • dental cleaning (1)
  • extraction (1)
  • tooth replacement (1)
  • vitamins (1)
  • dental injuries (4)
  • tooth extractions (1)
  • Dental Stains (1)
  • Oral Care Routine (1)
  • Oral Care (1)
  • dental care (1)
  • bridgework (1)

Categories:

  • None (1)
  • Dental Procedures (118)
  • Oral Health (112)
  • Cosmetic Dentistry (3)

Our Location

Easley, SC Family Dentist
Southern Oaks Family Dentistry
3904 Highway 86
Easley, SC 29642
(864) 850-9100
Call For Financing Options

Map & directions

Office Hours
Monday: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday- Sunday: Closed
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Dentist Web Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map