Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder marked by interruptions and pauses in breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by obstructions in the airway, such as the tongue rolling back in the throat or collapsed tissues in the airway. Untreated sleep apnea can contribute to several serious health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and liver problems.

Sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a sleep physician. We recommend that you talk to our dentists, as well as your physician, if you suffer from the symptoms of sleep apnea. Common signs of sleep apnea include:

• Extreme drowsiness during the day
• Personality changes and irritability
• Difficulty staying asleep
• Snoring
• Waking up with a very dry or sore throat
• Frequent morning headaches

Sleep apnea treatment may depend on the severity of the condition. If you suffer from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, our dentists may recommend a simple oral appliance. The appliance works to treat obstructive sleep apnea by fitting over your teeth and keeping your airway open while you sleep. It can work by preventing the tongue from blocking the air passage or by holding your jaw in a position that prevents airway blockages during sleep. 

For more information on sleep apnea treatment, we welcome you to call or visit our dental practice today. We are committed to helping you improve your health!

Our caring dentists and team understand that many patients (and their partners) find snoring to be a common nighttime annoyance. Snoring is typically caused by obstructions in the airway, such as collapsing tissues in the throat, large tonsils or the tongue rolling back in the throat. As airway muscles relax during sleep, these tissues can narrow the upper airway and result in snoring.

To ensure that you and your loved ones can sleep peacefully through the night, our dentists may recommend a snoring treatment. Our most common snoring treatment is oral appliance therapy. For this treatment, we will provide you with a custom-made oral appliance, which you wear only while you sleep. The snoring appliance works by ensuring that your airway stays open and free of obstructions while you sleep. This may be accomplished by preventing the tongue from rolling back or holding your jaw in a position that prevents the airway tissues from collapsing. We will make certain that your custom snoring appliance fits effectively and comfortably to minimize snoring and allow you to sleep peacefully.

If you snore frequently, we encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about snoring treatment and schedule your next visit with our dentists. We are eager to care for you!