Sleep Apnea Treatment – Natick, MA
Helping You Rest Well
Most people are aware that they snore — usually because they’ve woken themselves up with their own rattles and rasps or because their partners have elbowed them awake. Did you know that snoring can often indicate a more serious condition called sleep apnea? It can. If you experience loud, chronic snoring, the Papageorgiou Dental Associates team can help. Our team offers skilled dental sleep medicine services including oral appliances and combined CPAP and oral appliance therapy. If you live in Natick, Framingham, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, or surrounding communities, please contact Papageorgiou Dental Associates for your sleep apnea and snoring therapy options. We’ll schedule a consultation to discuss your sleep apnea and provide a personalized plan for sleep apnea treatment in Natick, MA.
Why Choose Papageorgiou Dental Associates
for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- Professionally Customized Oral Appliances
- Team That Treats You Like Family
- Saturday Appointment Times Available
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when patients stop breathing for ten or more seconds at a time during sleep. There are two main types of sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is the rarer form of the disease that occurs when the brain fails to trigger the body to inhale and exhale. Central sleep apnea typically requires advanced therapies and possible surgical intervention. The most common form of this sleep disorder is called obstructive sleep apnea, which means the sufferer endures abnormal pauses in breathing caused by airway obstructions that can cause gasping, choking, and snoring.
What Are The Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea?
In Natick, Papageorgiou Dental Associates offers tests, diagnoses, and treatments for sleep apnea. Before we can get started improving your quality and quantity of sleep, we have to know you’re experiencing common warning signs of this sleep disorder. Let our team or a local sleep doctor know right away if you experience any of the common warning signs of sleep apnea, including:
- You wake up often during nightly rest
- You feel moody and irritable without reason
- You’re forgetful or find it difficult to concentrate
- You are exhausted throughout the day no matter how much rest you get
- You snore, gasp, choke, or cough—sometimes to the point that you wake yourself up
- You suffer from chronic morning headaches
If you’re experiencing the symptoms listed above, then it’s possible you have some form of sleep apnea. It’s vital that you receive treatment for your sleep apnea and snoring issues. You are at increased risk for this sleep disorder if you are male, over the age of 60, or your body mass index is classified as obese.
Why Should I Visit a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Dentists undergo years of training that allows them to understand how oral and facial structures interact and what causes concerns with those interactions. The airway is one of those facial structures, and providing treatment to achieve ideal airway function is one way dentists can help keep patients healthy for life.
How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Treat Sleep Apnea?
Dentists provide the most comfortable and minimally invasive treatment for sleep apnea sufferers. Traditionally, patients with sleep apnea receive treatment using continuous, positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems. Unfortunately, many patients find themselves unable to adjust to this treatment and fail to use their CPAP systems regularly. For these patients, those who travel frequently, and those who don’t receive adequate relief using CPAP alone, oral appliance therapy may be a better option. Oral appliances reposition the jaw forward. This places pressure on the throat, keeping the airway clear. When worn during sleep, the oral appliance allows patients to sleep soundly through the night.