Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a dangerous medical condition in which you can temporarily stop breathing up to several times per hour during the night.  You may wake yourself up with loud snores and gasping for breath or you could be completely unaware that you are suffering.  Sleep Apnea can be the cause or a contributing factor to:

• Weight gain not explained by poor diet or lack of exercise
• Anxiety, irritability, depression, and other mood disturbances
• Not feeling rested when you wake up in the morning and feeling tired during daytime hours
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating

Some of the risk factors include obesity, previous damage to the nose or throat, or those who snore heavily for other reasons are at higher risk of developing this condition. Sleep apnea can be especially problematic for those with certain medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a previous stroke. 

Current medical treatments don’t work for everyone.

Sleep doctors typically prescribe a CPAP mask or nasal cannula that patients wear at bedtime to help supply a constant flow of oxygen while sleeping.  CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. The downside to a CPAP machine is that it is a cumbersome and noisy machine not allowing for some people to sleep with a CPAP mask than they did without it.

Highlight Family Dentistry can help you find a more effective and comfortable solution, such as a mandibular advancement device or a soft tissue repositioning oral appliance.