Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea, a condition in which people have pauses in breathing during sleep, can affect all areas of life. It can cause daytime sleepiness, depression, irritability and put you at an increased risk for stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It can also cause a strain on a relationship by affecting your partner’s ability to sleep and a decreased sex drive.
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the soft tissue in the back of the throat obstructs the airway, causing snoring and a brief pause in breathing. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is often the first solution physicians turn to for treating sleep apnea. It is extremely effective, but has a high rate of non-compliance.
Some common complaints with CPAP therapy are:
- Uncomfortable mask
- Interrupted sleep due to noise from the device
- Claustrophobia
- Dry, stuffy nose
- Difficulty tolerating the air pressure
- Skin irritation from the mask
Symptoms that you or your partner may have sleep apnea include:
- Loud, nightly snoring
- Gasping, snorting during sleep
- Restless, drowsy feeling during the day
- Headaches and migraines immediately upon waking
- Sore throat
- Poor sleep
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Difficulty focusing
At Alex Bell Dental, we offer our patients an alternative to CPAP therapy with oral appliance therapy. Oral appliances are an effective solution for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. It works by holding the jaw in a forward and slightly open position to keep an open airway. This results in a reduction in snoring and apnea episodes.
More and more patients are turning to oral appliance therapy as an alternative to CPAP. Oral appliances can also be used in conjunction with CPAP to make the treatment more comfortable and effective for patients with severe apnea.
At Alex Bell Dental in Centerville, we can help you with your sleep apnea. We work with both primary care physicians and sleep specialists to help accurately diagnose the condition. If you believe you may have sleep apnea, call us today to schedule an appointment and find out if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy. Treating sleep apnea can improve both your sleep and your health. A better-rested, more refreshed life is right around the corner.
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