Sleep Apnea services offered in Ontario, OR
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that robs you of rest and affects virtually every aspect of your overall health and wellness. For many in and around Ontario, Oregon, relief is achieved through the care of Ben Peterson, DDS, and the team at High Desert Dental. Don’t accept poor sleep as inevitable when there are sleep apnea treatments that can help. Call or click online today to set up a personalized consultation.
Sleep Apnea Q & A
What is sleep apnea?
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an estimated 22 million Americans are living with sleep apnea, many of whom have no idea that they have the condition. This serious health issue is characterized by frequent breathing interruptions during sleep.
Central sleep apnea
This form of sleep apnea develops when your body and brain do not properly communicate signals for breathing. The muscles that facilitate breathing simply stop working sporadically throughout the night.
Obstructive sleep apnea
By far the more common type, this form of sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in your throat relax and block the flow of air into and out of your airways.
Complex sleep apnea
This is a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep disorder is notoriously hard to treat, but thankfully it is also rare.
Determining which type of sleep apnea you have is the first step in treating the condition and improving your quality of sleep.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
Because many of the symptoms of sleep apnea occur while you are unconscious, information gleaned from your sleep partner is often the first sign that something is wrong. Many people with sleep apnea are inadvertently disturbing the sleep of loved ones.
Some of the signs you may have sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Frequent episodes where you stop breathing during sleep
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Daytime drowsiness
- Inability to concentrate during the day
- Increased irritability
- Waking with headaches or dry mouth
If you experience several of these symptoms, book a diagnostic assessment to determine if you are experiencing sleep apnea.
How is sleep apnea treated?
Your treatment path depends on your symptoms and overall health and wellness. If you are carrying a significant amount of excess weight, working to lose some extra pounds is a great way to improve sleep apnea symptoms.
For many people, an outstanding treatment option is wearing a custom-fitted oral appliance during sleep. These devices are molded to fit comfortably on your teeth, and slightly alter the alignment of your lower jaw to keep your airway open during the night.
It can take some time to get used to the way your night guard feels in your mouth. Be patient, and before long wearing your night guard will be just another part of your bedtime routine.
To explore treatment options for sleep apnea in greater detail, schedule a visit online or by phone today.