The inability to maintain even and constant breathing while you are sleeping is most commonly caused by obstructive sleep apnea. This type of apnea occurs when your airway located in the back of your throat becomes blocked.
Sleep apnea occurs when your mouth and pharynx muscles become too relaxed while you are sleeping. When these muscles become too relaxed, your tongue begins to prevent the necessary amount of air from reaching your lungs. If you are suffering from sleep apnea this is why you will wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air.
The inability to maintain even and constant breathing while you are sleeping is most commonly caused by obstructive sleep apnea. This type of apnea occurs when your airway located in the back of your throat becomes blocked. As a result of this blockage, you will develop extremely loud snoring, a shortness of breath, or have chronic feelings of lethargy or restlessness, because you are not able to relax and sleep as deeply as you need to.
At Vita Dental our entire staff always put the oral health of you and your family first. We collectively strive to provide you with a stress free and state-of-the-art experience. We want you to leave your visit feeling confident in your smile and your relationship with our team. Our goal at Vita Dental is to consistently provide you with a quality dental experience while you remain comfortable in our calming environment. We understand how dental anxiety can affect you, so we concentrate on creating a relaxing space where you are satisfied with your dental treatment. Do not hesitate to call us today at 317-288-4226 with any questions you might have regarding scheduling an evaluation for a sleep apnea issue and join our family today!
Before defining the treatments for sleep apnea, it is first important to understand what it is. The technical name for the disorder is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and it is a condition when you are not able to breathe properly and consistently while sleeping. A recent study showed that one out of three severe snorers were found to have a chronic level of sleep apnea.
Through the night attempting to sleep, sufferers of sleep apnea will experience what are known as apneas, the temporary inability to breathe, that can last up to 40 seconds. This will cause your brain to wake you up just enough that you will move and then resume breathing. Most people who suffer from sleep apnea do not know that they have it until they are observed by a spouse or a sleeping partner.
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Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
There are several common signs associated with sleep apnea, but the most common are:
- Extremely loud snoring while sleeping.
- Waking up multiple times throughout your night.
- You wake with chronic morning headaches.
- You experience chronic fatigue day after day.
- You have an extremely dry mouth when waking.
- You feel memory loss or brain fog.
- You wake up gasping for air.
- You suffer from depression, mood swings, and other mood disorders.
- Falling asleep during the day or never quite being able to awake.
The Dangers Associated with Sleep Apnea
You may assume sleep apnea is simply an annoyance with no real health consequences, but this could not be further from the truth. Leaving your sleep apnea untreated can increase the risk for many serious issues, including:
- Chronic Headaches
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Memory Loss
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Diminished Sex Drive
Given the severity of some of these health issues, it is important that you do not ignore symptoms related to sleep apnea and schedule an appointment today with Vita Dental to discuss possible treatment options.
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Treatment Options for Your Sleep Apnea
There are several treatment options available for addressing sleep apnea, some of which are designed to lessen your symptoms, while others are designed to eliminate the primary root cause.
- Change in Lifestyle Habits: Although this is usually the least popular option, the truth is that your overall health and your daily habits are the leading causes in the development of and the curing of your sleep apnea. If you would prefer to avoid dental appliance interventions or even surgery, then being more mindful of your diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and exercising frequently will not only dramatically do wonders to improve your sleep apnea, but will also dramatically improve your overall health and your well-being.
- CPAP Machine: The most common intervention for sleep apnea is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine) machine, which is essentially a mask that fits over your mouth and nose at night that keeps your airways open while you sleep. The CPAP machine is an effective intervention in improving sleep apnea, however many patients find wearing it to be an uncomfortable solution.
- Oral Appliances: If you prefer avoiding the use of a CPAP machine, there are also several oral appliances that are far less cumbersome. If you are interested in learning more about these options and seeing if having one custom made for you is your best option, Vita Dental can discuss this alternative with you.
- Surgery: It is best to try and avoid unnecessary surgery, but there are surgical procedures that are effective in widening your breathing passageways. We will strongly encourage making lifestyle changes before surgery, but if you would like to learn more about this option, we will be happy to have this conversation.
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AT VITA DENTAL
If you have questions about Vita Dental or any of the procedures we offer, please contact our office at (317) 288-4226 or via an online contact form. We will gladly schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your treatment options.
Oral Appliance Therapy
At Vita Dental, we can offer oral appliance therapy to help treat your sleep apnea. Oral appliances are a treatment that we design that are adjustable appliances worn in your mouth during sleep. The custom-made oral appliance maintains your lower jaw in a forward position. When these appliances are used properly, sleep apnea can be reduced or even eliminated.
Compared to other types of sleep apnea treatment, oral appliances can have the following advantages:
- Comfortable to wear.
- Quiet, no machine noise.
- Easy to put on and wear.
- Portable, use anywhere.
- Easy to take care of.
You may find that an oral appliance can be an effective alternative to CPAP pressure therapy.
We Love Our Patients!
Our caring team at Vita Dental is quite confident that you will love our comprehensive, empathetic clinic. Your team members at Vita Dental are also your neighbors and your friends. We are both dedicated and committed to providing you with exceptional dental care in a high-quality, relaxing environment. Give us a call today at 317-288-4226 with any questions regarding your poor sleep habits, or any concerns you might have.
Vita Dental is a modern dental practice serving Fishers, Indiana, and the surrounding communities. You can find Vita Dental at 11630 Olio Rd, #100, Fishers, IN 46037.