Have you ever been told that you snore? You’re not alone! Millions of people suffer from the effects of snoring and sleep apnea.
Many of our patients have struggled to find effective solutions to resolve their sleep apnea symptoms. At Lisa Siddall, DDS, our goal is to help you get the quiet, restful sleep you deserve! As dentists who take a more wellness approach, we look at all health factors contributing to your dental state... not just your symptoms! Chronic sleep deprivation undermines all aspects of health, but our team is here to help you get back on the path to optimal wellness.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
There are two different types of sleep apnea: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). Both are considered to be sleep breathing disorders.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This condition indicates that the soft tissue at the back of your throat is collapsing while you sleep, blocking your airway. This is the most common type of sleep apnea.
Central Sleep Apnea
This type of sleep apnea is caused by instability in your respiratory control center. Essentially, your brain fails to send the signal to your lungs that you need to breathe fully while sleeping.
Most people with sleep apnea snore heavily, then stop breathing while they are still asleep. The sleeping person is typically observed as struggling to breathe, but there is no snoring sound.
These periods of stopped breathing are often followed by a gasping or choking sound. The person with sleep apnea will partially awaken in order to breathe, leading to fragmented sleep patterns.
What Are The Dangers Of Sleep Apnea?
Doctors estimate that 9.1% of men and 4% of women have sleep apnea in the United States alone. Those statistics mean that roughly 1 in every 15 people are living with sleep apnea. This condition can mean you’re at a higher risk for:
- Stroke
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Depression
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Diabetes
- Worsening ADHD
Not getting enough restful sleep can also take a toll on your personal and professional life, leaving you groggy and tired throughout the day.
Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can be measured by the number of times you stop or reduce your breathing every hour. Together, these events are counted and referred to as the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI).
A sleep study can measure your AHI as well as the drop in your blood-oxygen levels to help determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea and how serious the condition is.
What Treatments Are Available For Sleep Apnea?
If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, Dr. Siddall and Dr. Dunn can provide a home sleep study with our state of the art sleep monitoring device. Should you need treatment, our custom oral appliances can naturally open your airway and increase oxygen flow as you sleep. We can even file your treatment against your medical insurance!
There are several treatment options for those suffering from sleep apnea. At Lisa Siddall, DDS we focus on offering minimally invasive oral appliance therapy!
Oral Appliance Therapy
Not everyone is an ideal candidate for a CPAP machine. That’s why Dr. Siddall and Dr. Dunn use oral appliances to help alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea.
An oral appliance is similar to a retainer or mouth guard and slightly advances the lower jaw or tongue, which can better open your airway during sleep.
This type of device can improve your breathing and reduce snoring. Everyone’s mouth is different, so at Lisa Siddall, DDS we provide customized oral appliances for each patient.
Schedule Your Consultation With Dr. Siddall or Dr. Dunn Today!
Sleep is vital to your health and quality of life, so if you’re concerned you or your loved one suffers from sleep apnea, give our Lake Leelanau dental practice a call. We’re always happy to answer any questions you have about sleep apnea or any of the other services we offer.
A consultation with Dr. Siddall or Dr. Dunn can be the best way to answer all of your questions and determine if sleep apnea treatment could be the best solution for your health and wellness!
We offer a variety of sedation dentistry options in our Lake Leelanau dental office If you have complex dental needs, or suffer from dental anxiety.