Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder with serious impacts on your health, well-being, and overall quality of life. Dr. Rick and his patient-centered team at Dr. Rick Dentistry offer trusted sleep apnea solutions, including oral appliance therapy, to help restore your restful sleep and enhance your quality of life. We invite you to visit our practice in Scottsdale to get started today.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition that is characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. The pauses can last from seconds to several minutes and can occur up to 30 times or even more every hour. The main type of sleep apnea, known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when your throat muscles relax during sleep, causing your airway to collapse and obstructing the flow of air into the lungs. 

The brain, sensing the lack of oxygen, briefly wakes you up to resume breathing, often accompanied by a snort or choking sound. Most patients don’t wake up long enough to remember they did, which is why sleep apnea frequently goes undiagnosed. Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health concerns. 

Symptoms of sleep apnea include the following:

• Chronic loud snoring
• Pauses in breathing at night reported by a family member or significant other
• Choking sounds and gasping for air during sleep
• Nighttime teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)
• Waking up with a dry mouth and morning headaches
• Trouble staying asleep or poor quality of sleep

How Can Sleep Apnea Impact Your Health?

Poor quality of sleep resulting from sleep apnea can lead to daytime sleepiness, trouble concentrating, irritability, and an increased risk of driving or workplace accidents. When it comes to children and adolescents, sleep apnea can lead to poor school performance and behavior problems that can impact their learning and interaction with their peers. 

Sudden drops in your blood oxygen levels can also strain your cardiovascular system and increase your risk of serious conditions, including high blood pressure, stroke, irregular heartbeats, and even a heart attack. It can also lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, liver problems, acid reflux, unexplained weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and complications with medications or after surgery. 

The loud snoring and repeated choking sounds through the night can also impact your partner, keeping them from getting a good night’s rest, which can take its toll on them in the long run.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

Sleep doctors usually prescribe continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP therapy, to manage sleep apnea symptoms. This involves a CPAP machine blowing pressurized air through a mask, helping the airway open. However, many patients report that the machine is noisy and cumbersome and does not provide the needed relief. 

At Dr. Rick Dentistry, we offer oral appliance therapy (OSA) for sleep apnea. This involves the use of dental devices, such as mandibular advancement devices or soft tissue repositioning oral appliances, to help keep the airway open as you sleep. We also offer splint-like devices that hold the tongue in place, helping keep the airway open. Dr. Rick will recommend the ideal oral appliance depending on your unique needs.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Near Me in Scottsdale, AZ

If you suspect you have sleep apnea or are looking for an alternative to CPAP therapy, contact Dr. Rick Dentistry to schedule a consultation. Dr. Rick will recommend the ideal oral appliance to provide you with lasting relief, enhancing your health and quality of life. We invite you to call our Scottsdale practice at 480-585-4244 to schedule your appointment or request one online today!