Sleep Apnea Treatment

in Hutto, TX

Do you often wake up feeling tired? Repeated sleep disruptions, a condition known as sleep apnea, can lead to constant fatigue and health complications in the long run. At Highlight Family Dentistry of Hutto, we offer at-home sleep tests followed by oral appliance therapy to address the root causes of sleep apnea and restore your restful, rejuvenating sleep. You can always count on our dedicated team for care that not only meets but exceeds your expectations.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea, the most common type of which is known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), is a potentially devastating sleep disorder. It is one of the most underdiagnosed disorders, which can lead to multiple diseases in the future. It is characterized by repeated interruptions in your breathing throughout the night, which can occur 1 – 100 times an hour, sometimes lasting more than 10 seconds each time. This results in a lack of oxygen supply, which hinders your body from rejuvenating and healing as you sleep, leading to various medical problems.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea has multiple causes, but some of the most common ones are obesity, a deviated nasal septum, an enlarged tongue size compared to the space available within the oral cavity, and the relaxation of the muscles at the back of your throat during sleep. These factors block the airway, preventing oxygen from reaching your lungs. The brain, sensing the lack of oxygen, wakes you up temporarily so you can breathe once again. This sleep-wake cycle can occur hundreds of times each night, interfering with your quality of sleep.

What Are the Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age. However, common risk factors include heavy snoring, a family history of OSA, obesity, chronic mouth breathing, and poor diet. Other risk factors include having a small jaw, a steep soft palate, a large neck circumference, enlarged tonsils, or previous damage to the nose or throat.

Warning Signs of OSA

The following are the most common warning signs of OSA:

Loud snoring most nights
Heavy breathing (not necessarily snoring sounds)
Light sleeping habits
Waking up choking or gasping for breath
Frequent morning headaches
Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)
Daytime fatigue and lack of attentiveness
Difficulty concentrating on tasks
Moodiness, anxiety, and irritability throughout the day
Dependence on caffeine to get through the day
A lack of energy in the early evenings or after work.
Irregular eating or constant snacking.

Impacts of Sleep Apnea on Your Health and Quality of Life

Poor sleep quality can seriously impact your health and quality of life. It can leave you feeling irritable, tired, and sleepy throughout the day and impair your ability to concentrate. This can affect your performance and increase the risk of motor vehicle or workplace accidents.

Lack of sleep is exhausting. It can leave you feeling drained and moody, impacting your relationships. Worse yet, studies show a strong link between sleep apnea and serious health concerns, which may include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, chronic acid reflux, surgery complications, unexplained weight gain, and more! Getting your sleep apnea under control can significantly improve your health, sense of emotional well-being, and quality of life.

Traditional Sleep Apnea Treatment

Traditional sleep apnea treatment typically involves using a CPAP machine, which helps deliver pressurized air through a mask to maintain an open airway during sleep. While CPAP therapy can be effective, many patients find the machine noisy and cumbersome, and many stop using it altogether. Furthermore, CPAP therapy provides symptom relief but does not address the root causes of OSA. CPAP machines also dry your mouth, which can lead to dental cavities.

Oral Appliance Therapy

At Highlight Family Dentistry, we've taken sleep apnea treatment to the next level. We are pleased to offer the FDA-cleared Vivos System, a non-surgical sleep apnea solution that uses custom-fitted oral appliances to gently change the shape and position of your jaw, correcting its shape, size, and alignment. Unlike most other non-surgical OSA treatments you'll have to undergo for a lifetime, Vivos oral appliance therapy can address the root causes of OSA, providing lasting relief in as little as 12 months!
Here’s a look at some of our Vivos oral appliances:

Vivos DNA: The DNA, or “Daytime-Nighttime Appliance,” involves wearing a retainer-like oral appliance that gently expands the upper arch space, increasing the size of the nasal cavity. As the upper arch widens, the lower arch moves forward to a more favorable position, as do the tongue and soft tissues. This helps increase the size of your airway and dramatically improve your ability to breathe without interruption while you sleep.

Vivos mRNA: The “Mandibular Repositioning Nighttime Appliance” is worn during the night, gently shifting the lower jaw forward to properly align it with the upper jaw. It also helps expand the upper jaw and hard palate, increasing the size of your airway.

Vivos mmRNA: The “Modified-Mandibular Repositioning Nighttime Appliance'' gently holds the lower jaw forward as you sleep, keeping the airway open. It also gradually expands the lower or upper jaw and palate to widen your airway, providing lasting relief.