Your Dentist May Be Your Solution for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Addressing Your Sleep Apnea Is Not Something You Should Sleep On.

A good night’s sleep can do wonders for the quality of your life and health. Unfortunately, about 25 million American adults experience a lack of quality sleep due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). While these numbers may suggest that it’s a common condition to live with, it can also be detrimental to one’s health if left untreated. Did you know that sleep apnea treatment can be achieved with a simple visit to the dentist?

Before we uncover how a dentist can be your ticket to a good night’s sleep, let’s first discuss how Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects the body and the most feasible options for sleep apnea treatment.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or sleep apnea for short, is a condition where the body experiences pauses in breathing during sleep. This occurs as a result of the relaxation of muscles in the throat, causing the soft tissues to collapse and block the airway. The block of air thus reduces oxygen levels and leads to the pauses in breathing.

Sleep apnea can be highly disturbing to sleep patterns, as the sudden lack of breath can lead to a panic-stricken awakening leaving you gasping for air. Most importantly, experiencing with symptoms of sleep apnea can interrupt everyday life and actually put your safety (even the safety of others) at risk.

Symptoms

This infographic published by the American Association of Sleep Medicine illustrates common symptoms of sleep apnea:

Additional symptoms include:

• Morning headache
• Awakening with a sore throat or dry mouth
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Awakening with chest pain

If left untreated, sleep apnea can escalate to a variety of serious medical conditions such as:

• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• High blood pressure

In serious cases, sleep apnea that goes left untreated can even lead to death.

How to Treat Sleep Apnea (and how your dentist can help

The first step in sleep apnea treatment is to seek the advice of a doctor who can diagnose your condition. This is done through a series of sleep evaluations performed by a sleep specialist.

Once a diagnosis is reached, your doctor can refer you to a qualified dentist who can provide a custom made sleep apnea device. This mouthguard-like device is worn much like a retainer or sports mouthguard and allows the wearer to maintain an open, unobstructed airway during sleep. It’s also commonly prescribed for other sleep issues such as snoring. Beaufils Dental has treated a number of patients who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and these patients have seen relief through the use of oral appliance therapy.

Don’t Let Sleep Apnea Affect the Quality of Your Rest

With so many options to help treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea, getting a good night’s sleep is now more attainable than ever. If you’re experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, it’s time to take action! Beaufils Dental is a Cooper City dentist who is specialized in providing quality sleep apnea treatment to qualified patients. Take control of your sleep today! Contact us at 954-252-1390 to schedule your appointment and see if oral appliance therapy is the right option for you.