Do you snore excessively? Are you always tired in the morning despite sleeping all night? If so, you could join more than 25 million Americans who suffer from a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that results in pauses in breathing due to an obstruction in the airway. While many people tend to believe that fatigue and snoring are the only complications of the condition, it can cause potentially deadly results. To protect your health and quality of life, you need treatment for sleep apnea in Windermere. At Windermere Dentistry, we provide the solutions you need to sleep soundly.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that causes numerous pauses in breathing frequently throughout the night. In some cases, it can occur hundreds of times, which each pause lasting for longer than one minute. Most often, the condition is caused by an obstruction in the airway, which causes the air passages to collapse.
As the airways narrow, your body no longer maintains adequate oxygen levels, which causes serious complications throughout the body. While many tend to think the only issues involve snoring, poor sleep quality, and morning headaches, the consequences are more severe. When left untreated, it can lead to cardiovascular disease, which increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. In addition, the lack of adequate sleep will lead to sleep deprivation. This not only significantly decreases your quality of life, but also raises your risk for accidents due to impaired cognitive abilities.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
To protect your quality of life and overall health, you need treatment for sleep apnea. Now, you can get the solutions you need from your dentist in Windermere. In the past, the disorder was often treated with a CPAP machine. This is a machine that is used to deliver a steady stream of air through a mask that is worn at night. While it is effective, it is uncomfortable. As a result, many patients do not use it properly so their condition is not fully managed.
Now, you can benefit from the most patient-preferred solution using an oral appliance. The device is custom-made to reposition your jaw forward. By wearing it at night, your airways are kept open to prevent the pauses in breathing. When used correctly, it is shown to be very effective for treating mild to moderate cases of the condition.
Where Can I Get Treatment for Sleep Apnea?
If you suspect that you have the disorder, you will need to undergo a sleep study. This will monitor you while you sleep to determine if the condition is present. Using the data gathered from the study, you will be referred to a dentist, like Windermere Dentistry, for treatment.
We will create the tailored approach you need to protect your health while allowing you to sleep soundly at night. If you need treatment for sleep apnea, do not put your health or quality of life at risk. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.