Sleep Apnea Therapy – Chesterton, IN
Sleep Soundly Again
You might think you get plenty of rest every night, but if you constantly feel exhausted, have trouble focusing, suffer from memory problems, or have started to drift off behind the wheel, you might be suffering from sleep apnea, a dangerous disorder that repeatedly interrupts your breathing during the night. Left alone, it could lead to accidents during the day, and it could even put you at a higher risk for potentially deadly heart problems. If you’re diagnosed with this condition, Dr. Danny Hayes can help you sleep easier at night with comfortable, effective sleep apnea treatment. Read on to learn more about sleep apnea therapy from our Chesterton, IN dental office and how it helps you combat snoring and sleep apnea.
Why Choose Advanced Dental Concepts
for Sleep Apnea Therapy?
- Quieter, More Comfortable Alternatives to CPAP Therapy
- Custom-Made Oral Appliances
- Caring Staff, Knowledgeable Dentists
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Most kinds of sleep apnea are brought on by the soft tissues in the mouth or throat relaxing and blocking the airway. This usually happens as a result of obesity, a deviated septum, certain medications, a narrow throat, or an overly large tongue. As a result, several times a night, breathing stops altogether. The lack of oxygen puts a lot of stress on the body and forces you to wake up so that you can start breathing normally again. These episodes (also called “apneas”) can happen multiple times every night – up to 100 times an hour in severe cases! Consequently, you won’t spend enough time in the restorative stages of sleep and will feel excessively drowsy during the day. Also, your blood pressure could rise dramatically because the heart is trying to move limited amounts of oxygen to where it’s needed. The longer your blood pressure stays raised, the more likely you are to suffer from a heart attack or a stroke.
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
If you have sleep apnea, you might snore loudly or start gasping for air in your sleep. If you live alone and don’t have another person to notice these symptoms for you, other warning signs you might watch out for include:
- Waking up short of breath
- Consistent morning headaches
- Dry throat upon awakening
- Mood swings
- Insomnia
- Focus and memory problems
- Sudden weight gain
- Sexual dysfunction
How We Can Help with Sleep Apnea
For a long time, the most common way to treat sleep apnea was CPAP therapy, which involves wearing a mask so that a special machine can pump air into your throat to keep the airway clear throughout the night. While this can be effective in many cases, many patients find it to be extremely uncomfortable; the mask can be restrictive, and the noise made by the machine could easily keep you awake, thus defeating the purpose of the treatment.
The good news is that Dr. Hayes can offer oral appliance therapy as a CPAP alternative. During the treatment, you simply fit the custom-made mouthpiece over your teeth before you go to bed. During the night, the appliance holds the lower jaw in a forward position so that the airway stays open. Depending on your case, the appliance can also be used to prevent your tongue from collapsing into the throat. This approach is far more comfortable, doesn’t make any noise, and is more convenient when traveling. It’s been shown to help 90% of patients enjoy dramatically improved sleep quality.
Reclaim Your Sleep
If you think you might have sleep apnea or have been diagnosed with the disorder, don’t delay seeking treatment; contact Advanced Dental Concepts today to ask about oral appliances so that you can look forward to nights full of restful slumber and sweet dreams again.