Are you having an increasingly hard time concentrating at work, or even making it through the day without copious amounts of coffee? Do you constantly feel tired, no matter how much sleep you have gotten? If so, it could be due to sleep apnea, a condition that affects millions of Americans, many of them unknowingly. Sleep apnea can actually be a dangerous condition, both because of the ill effects a lack of sleep can cause, but also because of the fact that it negatively impacts one’s breathing. Fortunately, in many cases, sleep apnea can be effectively addressed through a minimally invasive treatment that can be provided by many dentists.
What Are the Warning Signs of OSA?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused when one’s passageway becomes blocked by soft tissue, which can shift during sleep. What this does is create dozens or even hundreds of momentary lapses in breathing. Over time, this can wreak havoc on one’s health.
While loud snoring is one of the most recognizable symptoms of OSA, the condition can also cause increased risk of heart-related problems, including stroke, as well as frequent headaches, depression and irritability.
How Can a Dentist Help?
In many cases, a general dentist can help to address OSA through a sleep appliance. This device is very similar to a mouthguard, like the kind worn during orthodontic treatment or to protect the teeth during athletic events. Yet a sleep appliance is specially designed to help keep soft tissues clear of one’s airway during sleep.
This is often an effective alternative to a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, which many people find cumbersome.
Does Someone You Love Need Sleep Apnea Treatment?
If you would like to learn more about OSA or how to treat it, call Stephens and Gatewood Dentistry of Spring, TX, today at 281-320-2000. Se Habla Espanol!
