Are you tired of sleeping alone? Do your loved ones rely on closed doors and earplugs to help them rest peacefully through the night? If you are losing sleep because of your snoring, or if you are keeping your loved ones up at night with choking and gasping sounds, you may have sleep apnea.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially debilitating condition characterized by shallow or infrequent breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles supporting the soft palate relax, allowing the airway to narrow and close as you breathe in. It causes sufferers to snore loudly, choke, and gasp during sleep, leaving them (and those closest to them) feeling exhausted during the day. Conditions that have been linked to sleep apnea include high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and impaired concentration. Though it has the potential to be debilitating, at Densley Dental we have effective treatments that will put an end to your lonely nights and weary days.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Along with complaints from those closest to you, the following are sleep apnea symptoms to be aware of:
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Waking frequently with the need to urinate
- Feeling fatigued throughout the day
- Weight gain
- Attention problems
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Depression
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
At our Henderson, NV dental office, we address sleep apnea symptoms and snoring with a removable, oral sleep apnea appliance (similar to a mouthpiece) that stabilizes the tongue and repositions the jaw. This allows for normal mouth opening and closing, as well as normal airflow, giving you immediate relief from sleep apnea symptoms. Though the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device is the gold standard for treating mild to severe sleep apnea, our treatment is far less invasive and is ideal for patients who can’t tolerate the CPAP or who suffer from mild sleep apnea. Oral appliances are easy to use and require little to no change in your lifestyle.
FAQ
Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Snoring that is not associated with sleep apnea does not result in extreme fatigue.
Loud snoring and long pauses between breaths while sleeping are the most recognizable signs of sleep apnea.
Oral appliances are an effective alternative to the CPAP device, which can be very disruptive and uncomfortable for both the individual suffering from sleep apnea as well as their partner.