Your dentist can help treat your sleep disorder

Do you wake up feeling restless or excessively tired? Does your partner complain about your constant snoring? If so, you may be one of the millions who suffer from a sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Symptoms of OSA can dramatically impact your daily life, increasing the risk of accidents and depression. At Dental Health and Wellness in Colorado Springs, Colorado, we understand how crucial it is to effectively diagnose and treat this sleep disorder. That is why our team is skilled in diagnosing and treating sleep problems. Together, we can help you regain a restful night’s sleep with oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea. 

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that is characterized by multiple pauses in breathing throughout the night. These apneic episodes can be 10 seconds or longer and may occur up to hundreds of times during a person’s sleep. Apneic episodes prevent oxygen from adequately reaching the brain.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Loud snoring
• Gasping or choking for air
• Daytime drowsiness
• Memory loss
• Depression
• High blood pressure

Risk factors for sleep apnea

As with any disorder, some people are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. Knowing and understanding these risk factors can help determine whether your symptoms are related to the sleep disorder. The most common risk factors include:

• Family history of sleep disorders
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Age – risk increases after age 65
• Gender – men are at a higher risk than women
• Large neck circumference 

How your dentist can help with sleep apnea

Traditional treatment for sleep apnea is with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine. The CPAP delivers a constant oxygen flow to keep the airways open during sleep. While CPAP treatment can be very effective when a patient is compliant, unfortunately, many people do not use their CPAP machine as directed because it can be noisy and uncomfortable. 

Dental Health and Wellness offers a safe and effective alternative to CPAP. Custom oral appliances from your dentist are designed to keep the airway open by repositioning the jaw and tongue. The device is similar to a sports mouthguard or retainer and is worn only during sleeping hours. 

Benefits of oral appliance therapy:

• More comfortable than a CPAP mask
• Does not dry out the sinuses
• No noisy equipment
• Easier to travel with

Oral appliance therapy is recommended for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea or those who have chronic primary snoring. If you have tried and failed at CPAP therapy, you may be an excellent candidate for oral appliance therapy.

Do you think your symptoms may be a result of sleep apnea? Call us today for an evaluation!

If you are in the Colorado Springs, CO area and are concerned that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, we encourage you to call the Dental Health and Wellness team today at (719) 215-9292 to schedule an evaluation. We’re here to help you get restful sleep again. 

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