At Mallard Creek Family Dentistry, Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Rankin provide expert care for patients suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that affects your breathing while you sleep, often causing you to wake up multiple times during the night without realizing it. This can lead to poor sleep quality and a variety of health issues if left untreated. If you or someone you know is dealing with symptoms of sleep apnea, our team can help diagnose the problem and offer an effective solution that works for your lifestyle.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where your airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep, leading to short pauses in breathing. These interruptions can happen hundreds of times a night, preventing you from getting restful, restorative sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing the soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. As a result, sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing up to hundreds of times a night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute. Snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia are all signs that you could be losing shut-eye to sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be a potentially life-threatening condition.
Some of the warning signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, waking up with a dry mouth or headache, feeling excessively tired during the day, and trouble concentrating. If you or a family member is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to seek a diagnosis and proper treatment.
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Many people don’t realize how serious sleep apnea can be. If left untreated, it can increase the risk for other serious health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and impotence. It can also include the following:
- High blood pressure: The constant interruptions in breathing can put a strain on your cardiovascular system, leading to hypertension.
- Heart disease: People with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer from heart attacks and other heart-related issues.
- Stroke: Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of stroke.
- Diabetes: The lack of restful sleep can affect how your body uses insulin, which may lead to diabetes or make managing diabetes more difficult.
- Weight gain: Sleep apnea can make it harder to lose weight, and being overweight is also a risk factor for developing the condition.
It’s important to address sleep apnea as soon as possible to protect your overall health and improve your quality of life.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
At Mallard Creek Family Dentistry, Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Rankin offer oral appliance therapy as a convenient and effective solution for sleep apnea. Oral appliances are custom-made devices that fit comfortably in your mouth while you sleep. These appliances work by gently repositioning your jaw to keep your airway open, allowing you to breathe normally throughout the night.
The traditionally prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Although CPAP is effective, up to half of patients don’t adhere to the treatment. Dentists can provide an alternate sleep solution with oral appliance therapy. A dental oral appliance looks like a sports mouth guard and is worn only during sleep. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway, preventing sleep apnea and snoring.
Once you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea by a sleep physician, our office can make a custom-fitted oral appliance using impressions and models of your teeth. Many medical insurance plans cover oral appliance therapy. Patients like it because it’s comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable, convenient for travel, and easy to clean. If you have concerns about snoring and sleep apnea, please let our office know – the treatment of snoring or sleep apnea can make a big difference in a person’s quality of life!
In some cases, additional dental treatments may be recommended to improve the fit and function of the bite. These can include orthodontics and treatments designed to address jaw structure to improve airway function.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral appliance therapy helps people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It’s also a good option for patients who struggle with CPAP therapy or prefer a less invasive treatment. Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Rankin will evaluate your condition. Together, they can help you decide if oral appliance therapy is the right choice for you.
Take Control of Your Sleep Apnea
If you suspect that you or a loved one may have sleep apnea, don’t wait to seek treatment. At Mallard Creek Family Dentistry, Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Rankin want to help patients regain healthy, restful sleep through personalized care. Oral appliance therapy offers a comfortable and effective solution that fits your lifestyle. Call our office today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help treat sleep apnea.