Sleep apnea is a sleep order that can cause snoring and other problems, which can begin to affect your health if the disorder is not treated. If you experience this condition, you can go to a sleep specialist for help and proper diagnosis. But, did you know that you can also talk to your dentist about this condition? Treatment can involve an oral appliance as a treatment option, and a dentist can prescribe it for you if needed. If you have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with us so that we can discuss a treatment option.
What Exactly is Sleep Apnea?
There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common, and is caused by the muscles of your throat relaxing while you sleep. Central is when your brain doesn’t send the right signals to your muscles that control your breathing while you’re asleep. They can cause:
- Heavy snoring
- Tiredness during the day time
- Headache upon waking
- Insomnia
- Shortness of breath or pauses in your breathing while you sleep
If you experience these symptoms chronically, you may need to consult an expert who can determine if you have sleep apnea or not.
Dentists and Sleep Apnea
Once you have been diagnosed with a version of the disorder, we can decide on a treatment. Mild cases may only require you to make some changes, such as losing weight or ending tobacco usage. In addition, there is a machine that will send air pressure through a mask while you sleep. However, in many cases, you can speak with us about obtaining an oral appliance that will keep your throat open while you sleep
ABOUT YOUR FUQUAY VARINA DENTIST:
For over 15 years, Dr. Michelle Collier and the talented professionals at Waterstone Family Dentistry have provided comfortable, compassionate dental care to patients of all ages from Fuquay Varina, NC, as well as Holly Springs, Angier, Willow Springs, Raleigh, and all surrounding communities. If you’d like to learn more, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Collier by calling (919) 557-5250 today.
