Sleep Apnea

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects how you breathe. It’s very common, affecting nearly 22 million Americans. If you have sleep apnea, you stop breathing for short periods of time while you sleep.

Two types of sleep apnea are common: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). OSA develops when your throat muscles relax so much that when you sleep they block your windpipe. CSA occurs when nerve signals that control breathing don’t transmit properly from your brain.

OSA is more common than CSA. Some people have a condition called complex sleep apnea syndrome, which is a combination of both.

Do I have sleep apnea?

Having sleep apnea can negatively impact your quality of sleep. When you stop breathing repeatedly during the night, sleep can be disturbed and you wake up without a good night’s rest.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring
• Chronic fatigue
• Daytime sleepiness
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Dry mouth in the morning
• Headache in the morning

While snoring is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea, it’s possible to snore without having the condition. Seeking a professional diagnosis is the only way to know if you have sleep apnea.

Does sleep apnea go away on its own?

Sleep apnea doesn’t get better without treatment. If you think you could have sleep apnea, don’t ignore your symptoms.

Research shows that severe sleep apnea may make you three times more likely to suffer a premature death than someone who doesn’t have it, and an estimated 80% of obstructive sleep apnea patients go undiagnosed.

How is sleep apnea treated?

The Sunrise Dental team treats people diagnosed with OSA. They make different types of custom oral appliances to help open up your airway.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are a common treatment for sleep apnea, but they are often large, cumbersome, and loud. There are many patients who have tried to use a CPAP, but are intolerant of it for many reasons. An excellent alternative is a custom-fit oral sleep appliance. It is small, comfortable, easily transportable, makes no noise, and is personalized just for you.

The team takes impressions of your mouth and creates an appliance that you wear inside your mouth when you sleep, similar to a nightguard. When you wear the appliance, it helps open up your airway so you can get more oxygen, which helps you not only get more restful sleep, but can help alleviate many of the systemic conditions that are commonly affiliated with sleep apnea

Sleep better and feel better with sleep apnea treatment at Sunrise Dental. Call or book an appointment online today.