Experience Better Sleep with Just Smile Dental
Have you consistently woken up feeling tired in the mornings? Do you feel fatigued and moody during the day? If yes, you may be suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common yet often overlooked sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It’s characterized by recurring pauses in breathing during sleep, leading to disrupted rest and potential health complications.
If you’re looking for effective sleep apnea treatments, Everett, WA dentist, Dr. William Webley can help. Find out what our sleep apnea solutions could mean for your sleep and overall health.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the most prevalent kind of sleep apnea, is a serious medical condition that transpires when your throat is relaxed during your sleep. This causes your tongue to fall back into the airway and create a blockage that makes you stop breathing several times at night.
Due to the fact sleep apnea obstructs your airway, your body signals your brain to wake up and gasp for air repeatedly throughout the night. This can happen hundreds of times each night and the lack of oxygen to your brain can lead to a lack of quality sleep, lower quality of life, and serious health consequences.
Signs & Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
While snoring and gasping for air are the most common signs of sleep apnea, there are other signs you should look out for. Such signs include:
- Morning headache
- Low libido
- Mood changes
- Recent weight gain
- Daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty in completely simple tasks
If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to call our Everett office at (425) 341-1111 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Webley.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Health
If sleep apnea is left untreated, it can lead to serious health consequences. Such consequences include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Depression and anxiety
- Impair cognitively function
- High blood pressure
Our Everett dentist offers free sleep assessments that can diagnose your sleep disorder. We’ll use your assessment results to determine if you need further study done. Seeking professional treatment can help alleviate your symptoms and improve your sleep quality while also preventing further complications. Call our office to schedule your free assessment at (425) 341-1111.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
At Just Smile Dental, Dr. Webley is proud to offer CPAP alternative treatments to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. The treatments we offer include:
TMJ Treatment
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) treatment is a non-invasive approach that focuses on addressing jaw alignment issues that may contribute to sleep apnea. By carefully evaluating the alignment and function of the jaw, Dr. Webley can recommend and implement targeted treatments to improve breathing and reduce apnea episodes. TMJ treatment at Just Smile Dental aims to relieve the underlying causes of sleep apnea and enhance overall sleep quality.
Intra-Oral Devices
Intra-oral devices, also known as oral appliances, are custom-made devices that are worn during sleep. These devices are designed to reposition the jaw and tongue, effectively opening up the airway and reducing obstructions that lead to sleep apnea. Dr. Webley carefully assesses each patient’s needs and provides individually fitted intra-oral devices, ensuring optimal comfort and effectiveness.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is a specialized treatment approach that targets specific muscle areas to alleviate tension and promote relaxation. In the context of sleep apnea, trigger point therapy can address muscle tightness and discomfort that contribute to airway obstructions. Our Everett dentist offers trigger point therapy to provide relief and improve the overall sleep apnea management plan for our patients.
Tips for Managing Sleep Apnea
In addition to medical treatments, there are steps individuals with sleep apnea can take to manage their condition and improve sleep quality.
- Practicing good sleep hygiene, such as establishing a consistent sleep schedule and creating a comfortable sleep environment, can greatly impact the quality of rest.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and weight management is also essential.
Just Smile Dental is dedicated to educating patients about effective self-help measures to manage sleep apnea and enhance overall sleep health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apnea is always dangerous because it deprives you of getting the sleep you need and the oxygen your brain needs. Sleep apnea becomes more dangerous the longer you leave it untreated, as it can worsen your health. For this reason, sleep dentists strongly recommend conducting a sleep study to receive the correct diagnosis and treatment you need.
A sleep assessment, also known as a sleep study, is an overnight test conducted by a qualified sleep physician. The test will record your body’s activity during sleep. Such activities include brain wave patterns, heart, and breathing rate, the oxygen level in your blood, etc. Afterward, they will use the test results to diagnose your sleep disorder.
While sleep apnea is typically a chronic condition that can’t be fully cured, it can be effectively managed and symptoms can be significantly reduced with appropriate treatment. Lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss and positional therapy, along with medical interventions like CPAP therapy or oral appliances, can greatly improve sleep apnea symptoms.
Yes, dental issues such as misaligned teeth, a small jaw, or a narrow airway can contribute to sleep apnea. Dental professionals can play a significant role in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea by providing oral appliances or referring patients to specialists for further evaluation.
Alleviate Your Sleep Apnea Symptoms Today!
Not only does sleep apnea deprive you of sleep but also, it can harm your health and make your daily life more difficult. If you believe you may be suffering from sleep apnea, contact our Everett office at (425) 341-1111 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Webley.
You can also book your appointment online, and one of our staff will be happy to assist you. We’re proud to provide sleep apnea treatment to Edmonds, Marysville, Lynnwood, Silver Firs, and many more!