Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep condition that causes breathing to stop and start during the night. These interruptions can happen many times while you sleep and may lead to loud snoring, choking or gasping, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and daytime fatigue. Even if you sleep for several hours, untreated sleep apnea can prevent you from getting the restful sleep your body needs.
Sleep Apnea Is Generally Divided Into Two Main Types:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The more common type, which occurs when the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax and narrow or block the airway during sleep.
- Central Sleep Apnea: A less common type that occurs when the brain does not properly send the signals needed to control the muscles responsible for breathing.
What Can Sleep Apnea Treatment Do For You?
Quality sleep plays an important role in your physical health, mood, and everyday life. When sleep apnea repeatedly interrupts your breathing, it can leave you feeling tired even after a full night in bed. Over time, poor-quality sleep may affect your health, relationships, and overall well-being. Treating sleep apnea can help you get more restful sleep and may offer several other important benefits.
Support Your Overall Health
Getting appropriate treatment for sleep apnea may help reduce some of the health concerns linked to untreated sleep apnea, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, and type 2 diabetes. Better sleep can also support your body’s ability to manage stress and function properly throughout the day.
Wake Up Feeling More Like Yourself
Do you regularly wake up feeling tired, unfocused, or mentally foggy? Interrupted sleep can make it harder to concentrate and stay alert during the day. With effective sleep apnea treatment, you may experience better-quality sleep, improved daytime energy, and greater mental clarity.
Enjoy Better Sleep Together
Sleep apnea can affect more than just the person experiencing it. Loud snoring and restless nights can also make it difficult for your partner to get the sleep they need. Treating sleep apnea may help create quieter, more restful nights, allowing both of you to wake up feeling more refreshed and ready for the day.
How Can Sleep Apnea Be Treated?
Sleep apnea treatment depends on factors such as the type of apnea you have, its severity, and what may be contributing to your symptoms. There are several treatment approaches available, and the right option should fit both your needs and your day-to-day lifestyle.
Lifestyle Changes
For some people with mild sleep apnea, making healthy changes to daily habits may help improve symptoms. Your dentist or healthcare provider may suggest maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, avoiding sleeping pills, adjusting your sleeping position, improving your sleep routine, and quitting smoking. These changes can also be helpful when used alongside other forms of treatment.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is a widely used treatment for sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over your nose, or your nose and mouth, while you sleep. The mask connects to a machine that gently delivers a steady flow of air to help prevent your airway from becoming blocked. Different mask styles and CPAP machines are available, making it possible to find an option that works comfortably with your sleeping habits.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances are small devices worn inside the mouth during sleep and may be recommended for certain types of sleep apnea. They often resemble a custom mouthguard and work in different ways depending on your symptoms. Some appliances help move the lower jaw forward, while others help keep the tongue or airway in a position that supports easier breathing and may reduce snoring.
Surgery And Medication
In certain situations, surgery or medication may be considered as part of a sleep apnea treatment plan. Surgical options can address physical factors that interfere with breathing, such as a deviated nasal septum, a restricted throat or airway, or jaw-related blockages. Your healthcare team can determine whether these approaches are appropriate based on the underlying cause of your sleep apnea.
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to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
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