
Do you have problems enjoying a full night’s rest? Do you toss and turn or snore loudly throughout the night? If your loved ones complain about the noise you make each evening, an underlying health problem could be the culprit. By speaking to your dentist, we can help determine if you have a condition called sleep apnea. Apnea results from an obstruction of the airways in your mouth and throat that prevents you from breathing while you sleep. As the body fails to receive enough oxygen, your brain jolts you awake, gasping for air. Although you may not remember waking, this cycle repeats over and over throughout the night. Fortunately, we could provide an oral appliance that fits comfortably within your mouth to open your airways and let oxygen flow freely.
At your Katy, TX dental office, we take sleep apnea very seriously. Because snoring is a common symptom that can indicate a greater health threat, please let us know if you have a problem with this condition. We can help determine if treatment with an oral appliance could solve your snoring issues and provide a healthy night’s rest.
The Connection Between Snoring And Sleep Apnea
Snoring often coincides with a dangerous sleep disorder that leaves you waking tired and can wreak havoc on your cardiovascular system. Because sleep apnea results from the inability to breathe at night, you are unable to complete the full sleep cycles that provide the restorative benefits of a healthy night’s sleep. By waking you tens or hundreds of times each night, your blood pressure spikes, which does serious long-term damage to the heart and arteries. This means that by seeking a solution for your snoring problem, you also lower your risk for future strokes or heart attacks. Let us know about your snoring symptoms so we can determine whether an apnea diagnosis is applicable.
Designing Your Oral Appliance
If we obtain a sleep apnea diagnosis, we can discuss an alternative to CPAP machine treatment with the creation of a custom oral appliance. Certain patients find a CPAP too cumbersome or uncomfortable to soundly sleep through the night. By taking measurements of your oral structures, we can create a guard that fits comfortably on your lips. This appliance gently reorients the angle of your throat, opening it to provide oxygen to the lungs. This means sleeping soundly without the need to wake through the night. Enjoy feeling refreshed as your snoring symptoms subside.
Talk To Your Katy, TX, Dentist About Snoring and Sleep Apnea
If you suspect a chronic snoring problem, we can help determine if you suffer from sleep apnea. To learn more about how oral appliance therapy can relieve your symptoms and provide a quality night’s rest, please call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at (832) 437-3849 to schedule a visit.