If you’ve been experiencing disruptive sleep patterns or persistent daytime fatigue, you may be wondering if you have sleep apnea. About 39 million Americans struggle with this sleep and breathing disorder. When you get an accurate diagnosis, you can take the lifestyle steps and healthcare support to improve your sleep and health.
Here at Advanced Care Dentistry, Thomas O. Marxen, DDS, MSD, and the team of providers can evaluate your symptoms and help determine if you have sleep apnea. They also offer a comfortable, quiet, and convenient solution for your sleep struggles in the form of a customized dental appliance.
Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea, its potential impact on your health, and how our dental team can help you find relief and restore restful sleep.
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep. These breathing interruptions can last for a few seconds to minutes and may occur up to 30 times each hour throughout the night. The interruptions disrupt the natural sleep cycle and interfere with the healing and recovery during a solid night’s sleep.
Undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart failure and stroke. It also increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease and high blood pressure. Sleep apnea affects your mood, mental health, and overall quality of life.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most prevalent form. It occurs when the throat muscles relax and obstruct the airway during sleep.
Sleep apnea can often go undiagnosed. Seek an evaluation if you experience:
You may not notice some of these symptoms, but your partner may. Ask them to report snoring or interruptions in your breathing to you.
If you suspect you may have sleep apnea based on the symptoms mentioned above, reach out to our office. We can identify potential signs of sleep apnea during routine dental visits and offer a dental appliance to help.
If you want a definitive diagnosis, we can refer you to a trusted specialist who can conduct a sleep study at home or in a sleep laboratory. During a sleep study, your specialists monitor variables like breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and sleep stages.
If you have signs of sleep apnea or have been diagnosed with the condition, Advanced Care Dentistry can help. You may benefit from using custom-fit dental devices designed to reposition the jaw and prevent airway obstruction during sleep.
Compared with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, which can be loud and bulky, these oral appliances are comfortable and portable. They can significantly improve sleep quality and reduce symptoms when you have mild to moderate sleep apnea.
If you’re struggling with symptoms of sleep apnea, reach out to Advanced Care Dentistry. Call the office or use this website to book an appointment.
We can help you through the diagnostic process and explore treatment options. Our goal is to help you achieve a restful night’s sleep and improve overall health and well-being.
