Do you or a loved one suffer from insomnia? Is your partner a chronic snorer? Ask our office about sleep apnea treatment in our Newtown, PA dental office.
In addition to offering restorative dentistry treatments at our Newtown, PA office, we also provide sleep apnea treatment. This is because Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a common type of sleep apnea, is often the result of an airway issue.
Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the mouth collapse. Airway obstruction makes it difficult to breathe properly when sleeping and can increase the risk of heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks.
We offer alternative therapy using oral appliances for sleep apnea and snoring. Oral appliance therapy for sleep disorders has been proven effective due to greater patient compliance when compared to CPAP use for mild to moderate cases.
Sleep Apnea: Signs and Risk Factors
Patients are at risk for developing sleep apnea if they are:
- Male
- Overweight
- Over 40 years old
- Patients with heart problems
There are also several signs of sleep apnea to look out for:
- Daytime sleepiness
- Mood swings
- Difficulty breathing
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Snoring
- Chronic morning headaches
Please contact our office if you or a loved one has exhibited signs of sleep apnea. We can work with you to diagnose your sleep problem and find the right treatment for your specific needs.
Treating Sleep Apnea
For patients with mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, we can provide a custom oral appliance. Oral appliances are a great alternative to CPAP machines for patients with mild to moderate OSA. CPAP machines are bulky, while mouthguard-like oral appliances are much more portable and easier to use.
In our office, we can take an impression of the teeth to create a custom oral appliance for you. Oral appliances open up the airways and prevent tissues from collapsing and obstructing your breathing. Patients with mild sleep apnea symptoms can sleep comfortably while wearing their customized oral appliance.
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
While sleep apnea is often brushed aside as just snoring, it can have serious consequences on your health. Since your breathing is actually being interrupted, you don’t get the oxygen your body needs. Between that and disrupting your sleep cycle, it can lead to serious long-term problems.
When your airway gets blocked during sleep, the oxygen levels in your body drop. Your heart has to work harder to deliver enough oxygen to the rest of your body. Sleep apnea stresses and strains your cardiovascular system, increasing your blood pressure and your risk of hypertension. People with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from heart disease and are at higher risk of heart attacks. It even significantly raises the chances of you experiencing cardiac arrest and death.
An increased risk of strokes also comes with sleep apnea. Oxygen deprivation can damage the blood vessels, making it more likely for clots to form. There’s also a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Disrupted sleep impacts the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and insulin.
There’s a mental impact, too. Regardless of how long you slept, you wake up exhausted because you aren’t getting quality sleep. Chronic fatigue can cause forgetfulness, affect your reaction time, and make it challenging for you to concentrate. All of these things contribute to an increased likelihood of traffic accidents or mistakes at work. Overall quality of life is lower, as you’re also more likely to develop conditions like depression and anxiety.
Sleep apnea doesn’t just impact you. If you have a partner or roommate, you may be waking them up frequently with your snoring, making their sleep quality suffer. It can strain relationships when you’re both irritable from a lack of sleep. Everyday actions and duties can seem insurmountable because of how exhausted you are.
Patient Review
Sleep Apnea Treatment FAQs
Sleep apnea can have serious impacts if you don’t seek treatment. Read the answers to these commonly asked questions to learn more.
What are the most common symptoms of sleep apnea?
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are chronic snoring, daytime fatigue, difficulty remembering, headaches, mood swings, and a dry mouth or throat when waking up. Patients may also experience moments while asleep where they stop breathing. A partner often notices this. If you experience any of these, please get in touch with our office so we can diagnose and treat you.
How do medical professionals diagnose sleep apnea?
Dentists and doctors usually diagnose sleep apnea with a sleep study, medically known as a polysomnography. A sleep study monitors a patient’s brain activity, heart rate, oxygen levels, and breathing patterns. You can do a sleep study from the comfort of your home or in a medical center. The information used from a sleep study helps us to diagnose sleep apnea in patients.
Can you cure sleep apnea?
Unfortunately, you cannot completely cure sleep apnea; however, treatment can regulate and manage it. Sleep apnea treatment helps to relieve symptoms and reduce any health risks associated with it. We can successfully manage sleep apnea if you follow treatment methods properly.
Can sleep apnea treatment reduce snoring?
Sleep apnea can reduce and sometimes even completely eliminate any snoring. One of the main symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring. This varies from patient to patient, but you can generally reduce snoring with sleep apnea treatment.
What should I avoid if I have sleep apnea?
The main things to avoid with sleep apnea are activities that can worsen breathing difficulties at night. This includes the consumption of alcoholic beverages, sedatives, and muscle relaxants. They can further relax throat muscles, which is bad for sleep apnea. You should also avoid sleeping on your back; it can block your airway. Lastly, it would be best to stop smoking. Smoking can make sleep apnea worse.
Does a humidifier help with sleep apnea?
Yes, a humidifier can help people who suffer from sleep apnea. Humidifiers help patients by adding moisture to the air. This alleviates dryness and irritation in the throat and nasal passages. Moreover, by adding moisture to the air, you may be able to reduce snoring and dry mouth. Always consult a dentist or sleep specialist to determine the best treatment.
Request a Dental Appointment Today
Have you or a loved one noticed the signs of sleep apnea? Call our dental office for sleep apnea treatment today at 267-692-2394. Feel free to schedule a dental consultation with our professional dental team on our website. Let us know if you have further questions about sleep apnea and we will gladly help you get the answers you need.