
How do I Know if I Have Sleep Apnea?
A good night’s sleep is critical for your health and overall well-being. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, our team at Dr. Rick Dentistry is here to help. We are pleased to offer trusted sleep apnea solutions, including oral appliance therapy, to help you enjoy rejuvenating sleep and wake up feeling rested and refreshed. We look forward to enhancing your health and quality of life.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that’s characterized by pauses in breathing as you sleep. You may wake yourself up with loud snores or gasps or may not realize you’ve been having these sleep interruptions.
The most common type of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea. It typically results from the muscles at the back of the throat relaxing during sleep, leading to the soft tissues collapsing and blocking the upper airway. Breathing pauses can sometimes last up to 10 seconds at a time. The brain, sensing oxygen deprivation, wakes you up briefly to resume breathing. This exhausting cycle may occur up to hundreds of times each night.
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Here is a look at the most common warning signs of sleep apnea:
- Chronic loud snoring
- Pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking up gasping for breath
- Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Morning headaches
- Waking up with a dry mouth
What Are the Potential Health Impacts of Sleep Apnea?
The following are some ways sleep apnea can impact your health and quality of life:
- Feeling tired, lethargic, and sleepy during the day
- Brain fog, difficulty focusing, and memory loss
- Frequent mood swings, irritability, and depression
- Increased risk of accidents due to fatigue
- An elevated risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke
- Higher risk of acid reflux, diabetes, and adult asthma
- Unexplained weight gain and metabolic syndrome
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Treating sleep apnea starts with a diagnosis through a sleep study. Sleep doctors typically prescribe CPAP therapy or continuous positive airway pressure. This involves wearing a mask that blows a steady stream of pressurized air through a mask or nosepiece, which helps keep the airway open. While CPAP therapy has shown great results for some, many patients find the machine noisy and hoses cumbersome and report that they don’t sleep any better.
At Dr. Rick Dentistry, we offer oral appliance therapy, which is often a more comfortable and effective alternative to CPAP therapy. Depending on your needs, we may recommend a mandibular advancement device or a soft tissue repositioning oral appliance that you wear, similar to a mouthguard. Your oral appliance will keep your jaw in a forward position, maintaining an open airway.
Another option is a soft tissue repositioning oral appliance, which is a splint-like device that keeps your tongue in place, maintaining an open airway. Dr. Rick will recommend the ideal treatment option based on your unique needs.
Sleep Apnea Solutions Near Me in Scottsdale, AZ
If you suspect you or a family member may be suffering from sleep apnea, contact Dr. Rick Dentistry to get on track to lasting relief. Dr. Rick and his patient-centered team will help you restore your restful sleep, enhancing your health and quality of life. We invite you to call us at 480-585-4244 to schedule an appointment or request one online today!