Nothing helps you feel and live your best like a good night’s sleep! However, sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, can impact your health and sense of wellness. Your trusted team at Main Street Dental Smiles is proud to offer proven sleep apnea solutions to restore your restful, rejuvenating sleep and improve your quality of life.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea, the most common of which is known as obstructive sleep apnea, is a potentially serious medical condition characterized by abnormal breathing during sleep. Patients experience multiple extended pauses in breathing through the night, which causes a lower quality of sleep and affects the body’s oxygen supply. That can potentially lead to serious health conditions.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
In general, sleep apnea patients are not aware of their breathing problems during sleep. They often only find out about the issue from a partner or roommate. Excessive daytime sleepiness is the greatest tell-tale sign that you suffer from sleep apnea. Here are the most common symptoms of this condition:
- Chronic loud snoring
- Disrupted or labored breathing that can stop for up to a minute at a time
- Gasping, choking, or snorting during sleep
- Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth
- Morning headaches
- Feeling tired and lethargic
- Difficulty concentrating and memory loss
- Weight gain not explained by poor diet or lack of exercise
- Anxiety, irritability, depression, and other mood disturbances
Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
Some of the risk factors for sleep apnea include heavy snoring, obesity, or previous damage to the nose or throat. The condition can be especially problematic to patients with certain medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a previous stroke.
Treating Sleep Apnea
Sleep doctors typically prescribe continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, which involve wearing a mask that forces oxygen into the nose to keep the patient breathing consistently throughout the night. The downside to CPAP machines is that they are noisy and cumbersome, and many patients don’t find that they sleep any better using them.
Main Street Dental Smiles is proud to offer more effective and comfortable sleep apnea solutions, such as mandibular advancement devices or soft tissue repositioning oral appliances. Mandibular advancement devices are similar to mouthguards. They help the jaw maintain a forward position, which keeps the airway open. Soft tissue repositioning oral appliances, on the other hand, are splint-like devices we use to keep the tongue in place to maintain an open airway. Dr. Schilling will work with you to determine the sleep apnea treatment that works best for you.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Whitesboro, TX
Visit Main Street Dental Smiles to learn more about our safe and effective sleep apnea treatment options. Dr. Schilling and her team look forward to restoring your restful, rejuvenating sleep. Call us at 903-564-3451 and schedule your appointment today!
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