When you suffer from sleep apnea, this means trouble feeling rested and alert during the day. You could also experience poor overall health! But our team can offer a comfortable and noninvasive solution that doesn’t require the loud and cumbersome CPAP machine. In today’s blog, your Virginia Beach, VA, dentist talks about sleep apnea treatment.
The Causes of OSA
Why do we develop OSA? The issue could be caused by a large neck circumference, complications with the growth of oral structures, sinus and allergy issues, obesity, and our sleep habits. While men 55 and older are at a very high risk, this disorder can impact all genders and even people in their teen years. The disorder means that as you sleep, the soft tissues in the throat and the rear of your mouth become too relaxed and collapse, cutting off airflow completely. You stop breathing briefly until the brain wakes you after registering the drop in oxygen. While you may remember being woken each time, this could interrupt your sleep schedule hundreds of times a night, leaving you exhausted and more vulnerable to health complications.
Warning Signs and Potential Complications
You should let us know if you suffer from chronic snoring, headaches and dry mouth, daytime drowsiness and irritability, or episodes of waking suddenly in the night choking or gasping for breath. Without treatment, the disorder could lead to issues concentrating at work or school, and could impact how you interact with others. The stress on your immune system leads to more frequent illness, and the stress on your heart health means a higher risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and heart attack. Don’t ignore your symptoms, talk to our team right away!
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
If we find you suffer from sleep apnea, we will take detailed digital images of your smile from multiple angles, and use them to design an oral appliance you wear while sleeping. The device fits like a mouthguard, but actually moves the jaw and tongue forward to keep airways open and free of obstruction. You then breathe without interruption and avoid OSA symptoms, so you feel more rested and alert, and your immune system and heart health won’t suffer inordinate stress.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like sleep apnea, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy a good night’s rest and better oral health too!
Talk To Your Virginia Beach, VA, Dentist About Treating OSA
Our team is here to help you sleep well and avoid the need for a CPAP machine. Call Absolute Dental Care in Virginia Beach, VA at (757) 428-7440 to schedule a visit soon!
