For weeks now, you’ve been exhausted every morning. You’ve even started going to bed a couple hours earlier, but nothing seems to help. You get up in throughout the night to use the restroom, and sometimes, you even wake up gasping. Your wife complains about your snoring – but you’re surprised when she tells you there are times when you completely stop breathing at night. After a sleep study, you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, but you hate using the CPAP machine the doctor ordered. Luckily for you, there are dental treatment options for sleep apnea in Natick when you work with Dr. Papageorgiou and Dr. Singh.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is the second most common sleep disorder, right after insomnia. Most people who have this suffer from obstructive sleep apnea – when you sleep, your mouth and lower jaw relax, allowing the tongue to block your airway, and preventing you from breathing properly.
Since your body is wise enough to know you’re not getting the oxygen you need, you’ll wake up, but often not remember it. Your brain will make you only conscious enough to start breathing properly – these “micro-arousals” can happen hundreds of times a night. Even though you may not be cognizant of waking, you’ll feel it in the morning.
What Are The Symptoms & Dangers Of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea has many common symptoms:
- Snoring – bear in mind though, you can still have sleep apnea even if you don’t snore
- Elongated pauses in breathing when sleeping – usually noticed by your partner
- Waking up gasping for air or with an asthma attack
- Waking up to urinate
- Morning headaches
- Exhaustion, even after sleeping 8 or more hours
- Sleepiness while driving
- Craving carbs and sweets for energy
- Depression, irritability, forgetfulness, and trouble concentrating
- Decreased interest in sex
Sleep apnea may seem like it can be taken lightly, but this is a complete misconception. Having untreated sleep apnea can shorten your life significantly. This condition can be deadly, and can cause a constellation of health issues such as:
- High Blood Pressure
- Cardiac Arrest
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart attack
- Sudden Death
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Car Accidents
How Can I Find Out If I Have Sleep Apnea?
If you think you might be affected by sleep apnea, talk with our team or your doctor today – don’t wait. Take a look at these risk factors or quiz yourself.
Once you work with a medical professional for a sleep study and diagnosis, you’ll most likely be prescribed a CPAP – this machine opens your airway by constantly blowing air through your nose and mouth to eliminate obstructions. Since this can be very uncomfortable, cumbersome, and expensive, many people can’t tolerate the treatment they need.
Are There Dental Treatments For Sleep Apnea?
Why spend thousands of dollars on a CPAP machine that doesn’t work for you? Dr. Papageorgiou and Dr. Singh can fit you for a 100% customized oral appliance that will shift your lower jaw and tongue out of the way while you sleep. This device is similar to a nightguard, exceedingly comfortable, and much more economical than a CPAP machine. And, it’s effective – custom oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea works well for about 80% of people who use this.
Get back to a good night’s sleep and keep your overall health safe by working with your dentist in Natick – schedule your appointment today with Papageorgiou Dental Associates for sleep apnea therapy.