Sleep
Dentistry Services
Sleep dentistry focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea. By improving sleep quality, sleep dentistry can provide numerous benefits for patients, including increased energy and productivity during the day, improved mood and cognitive function, and a reduced risk of serious health problems. Let our team help you start to sleep well and improve your quality of life with sleep dentistry.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition when you stop breathing periodically during sleep. Those who suffer from sleep apnea can stop breathing as many as 20-30 times per hour. This condition results in a lack of oxygen and can wake you up to restart proper breathing. This accumulation of short moments of waking up can easily lead to poor quality of sleep. Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical condition and, if left untreated, can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart failure. The ongoing state of fatigue caused by sleep apnea can also lead to problems in your daily life.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, contact our practice to determine if you suffer from sleep apnea:
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Loud snoring
- Waking up short of breath
- Snorting or choking sounds (indicating a restart of breathing)
- Headaches when waking in the morning
- Falling asleep during the day unintentionally
- Extreme fatigue during the day
Types of Sleep Apnea
Out of the three types of sleep apnea, the most common is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs because of a physical blockage in the airway. A less common type is central sleep apnea (CSA). CSA occurs when the muscles that manage your breathing do not receive proper signals from the brain. Some people can also suffer from the third type, which is “mixed” or “complex” sleep apnea. This is a combination of the first two types of sleep apnea.
Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea tends to be more common in males than in females and is more common in adults 40 years or older. However, anyone, regardless of gender or age, can experience sleep apnea. Some risk factors for sleep apnea include obesity, smoking, drinking, use of sedatives, and also a family history of sleep apnea. CSA most often affects people with heart disorders, neuromuscular disorders, strokes, or brain tumors.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Treatment for sleep apnea will first depend on the severity of each case. Secondly, treatment will depend on the type of sleep apnea. Some forms of treatment for sleep apnea can include the use of a CPAP machine, or oral appliance therapy. Our office will work with you and your unique situation to craft your personalized treatment plan to get relief from your sleep apnea.
Snoring Prevention Using Solea Sleep
Solea Sleep is a revolutionary new procedure in the evolving field of dental sleep medicine. This procedure is a simple, quick, and comfortable laser treatment that provides rapid relief to people who snore. The benefits include increased quality of sleep, as well as their partner’s quality of sleep. Solea Sleep is non-invasive, patient-friendly, and takes only 5 minutes to administer, with no post-treatment discomfort or downtime.