Are you looking for information on sleep apnea because you have been diagnosed with this disorder recently? Did you know that you can visit a dentist for sleep apnea solutions?
When you are living with sleep apnea, it is essential for you to find a solution as soon as possible. This sleeping disorder has the potential to negatively affect the quality of your sleep, which in turn can have a damaging impact on your overall health.
When you are not getting the sleep you need, your performance at work or school can suffer.
About sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing while they are asleep.
If you have sleep apnea, you can stop breathing as little as one or two times per night to hundreds of time. The severity will simply depend on each patient's unique situation.
During these bouts of non-breathing, the brain is being deprived of oxygen. This is one of the main reasons why a solution for sleep apnea is needed as soon as possible to prevent long-term harm.
While there are many different types of sleep apnea, the main three types are obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea syndrome.
Common sleep apnea symptoms
The most common general symptoms associated with this sleeping disorder include:
- Loud snoring
- Waking up often trying to catch one’s breath
- Waking up with a very dry mouth
- Waking up with a headache
- Feeling irritable throughout the day
- Experiencing daytime sleepiness
Jaw pain and damaged teeth may also indicate that you have sleep apnea.
About dental sleep medicine
According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, nearly 30 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Many dentists seek special training to treat this condition. They know how to use oral appliance therapy to increase oxygen flow and protect teeth.
Seeing a dentist to treat sleep apnea
Oral appliance therapy requires sleep apnea patients to wear an orthodontic retainer or a mouth guard when they are sleeping. This device will help promote healthy breathing during the night. Each appliance is custom-made to fit a patient’s mouth.
A CPAP machine is another common treatment for sleep apnea. It works by keeping the airway open by forcing air through a tube that is connected to a mask.
Lastly, surgery may be an option. However, it is often a last resort treatment method.
Would you like to speak with a dentist?
Many people are often surprised when they hear that a dentist can help with sleep apnea. However, now that you know that the disorder can damage your teeth, seeing a dentist should make more sense.
Each case of sleep apnea is unique, and only a dentist can decide which treatment will work best.
Find out which treatments may work for you by calling our office. Not only can we help protect your teeth, but we can work on improving how well you sleep.
Request an appointment here: https://whiteflintfamilydental.com or call White Flint Family Dental at (301) 273-1085 for an appointment in our Rockville office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Do I Have Sleep Apnea.
Recent Posts
Dental sleep medicine treatment focuses on treating sleep apnea and other related conditions. More dentists are choosing to practice in this line of work because there are actually a lot of good dental sleep apnea treatments available to patients. Modern-day dentistry has evolved quite a bit, which has allowed for the evaluation of all kinds…
Oral appliance therapy is ideal for people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This dental device keeps the airway open during slumber at night. It prevents sudden and short breathing cessation that lasts for 1-2 seconds or longer. Severe cases can cause serious health issues such as hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Keep…
Seeking treatment for sleep apnea is important for your general health. Your general dentist can detect signs of this sleep disorder during a comprehensive dental exam. The sleep doctor can work with your dentist to correct the problem. Here are the details about when to see a dentist for sleep apnea.This sleep disorder makes a…
Sleep apnea is a fairly common medical condition that affects millions of Americans every day and, in some cases, can have life-threatening side effects. To get the right kind of help for your apnea, it first helps to understand the causes of this sleep condition, what the different causes mean for treatment, and how you…