Don’t “sleep” on apnea: Treatment for sleep-disordered breathing at the dentist’s office
Sleep apnea is serious. However, effective treatment is within reach at the dentist’s office, courtesy of your friendly team in Leawood, Kansas: the office of Stephen Huber, DDS.
What is sleep apnea?
A potentially life-threatening sleep disorder, apnea affects around 30 million Americans. The American Medical Association reports a large fraction of those with apnea – at a staggering 80% — remain undiagnosed. You do not want this disease to go untreated. It quite literally refers to breathlessness, as it is derived from the Greek term for “want of breath.” It is characterized by episodes in which a person stops breathing for at least 10 seconds when sleeping. During each episode, the individual temporarily awakens to restart breathing, leading to highly disrupted sleep and ongoing fatigue.
Could I have sleep apnea?
You may have sleep apnea if you feel tired despite getting sufficient hours of sleep each night. Just because you are in bed for a certain amount of time does not mean you are sleeping well. Patients with sleep apnea also complain about headaches, especially when first waking up, frequent sore throats and dry mouth, and impaired mental and emotional function. Partners and other family members may complain about your very loud and chronic snoring and associated choking and gasping during sleep (this often occurs as the body reawakens constantly through the night).
Does snoring mean I have sleep apnea?
Both are classified as types of sleep-disordered breathing. Simple snoring is a mild disorder characterized by loud breathing due to the upper airway being partially obstructed during sleep. However, snoring may be secondary to obstructive sleep apnea. Unlike mild or primary snoring, OSA causes the airway to become obstructed during sleep. If you are diagnosed with apnea, you may have hundreds of apneic events or involuntary pauses in breathing in just one night. Red flags include loud snoring, punctuated by silence, and a snort or choking sound as breathing resumes.
How do you treat sleep apnea?
The office of Stephen Huber, DDS, effectively manages both snoring and sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. OAT may be used with other therapies. Appliances may be designed to reposition, advance, and maintain the lower jaw in a healthier, protruded position during sleep. Additionally, CPAP therapy involves delivering positive airway pressure through a mask that fits over the nose during sleep. This process keeps the airway open. So you can breathe without interruption.
Treatment for this condition is not something you want to sleep on. So, if you suspect that sleep apnea might be to blame for your upsetting and chronic symptoms, schedule an appointment today. Call (913) 349-9795 to reach our team in Leawood, KS.
