Accurate Diagnosis and Effective Treatment for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
If you wake up feeling drowsy and unrested, you may have a sleeping condition. People with sleep conditions often wonder why they feel so much daytime fatigue after sleeping all night. For many, the cause is obstructive sleep apnea. Disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea can
be troublesome for many individuals, which is why it’s important to seek out a professional who can help with an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. When treated, patients with obstructive sleep apnea can get the deep, restorative sleep that every human requires. If you are in the West Bend, Wisconsin area, the team at Albrecht Family Dentistry offers oral appliance therapy to treat sleep apnea.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition caused by a blockage of the airway. This blockage can occur for several reasons, including excess fat on the neck or the tongue falling back in the mouth. Regardless of the cause, sleep apnea can cause hundreds of pauses in breathing every night –
keeping individuals from getting the necessary sleep required to function properly and safely.
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are:
- Loud, chronic snoring
- Daytime fatigue
- Chronic headaches
- Depression
- Dry throat/mouth
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
Obstructive sleep apnea can dramatically impact a person’s ability to perform their job functions and negatively impact the quality of life. Finding effective treatment is essential.
Treatment options for sleep apnea
Many patients who discover their sleep apnea diagnosis from a primary care doctor will first be advised to try CPAP treatment. This continuous positive airway pressure machine includes a mask worn over the mouth and nose. CPAP treatment is highly effective at keeping the airway open during sleep. However, compliance is difficult. Many patients find the machine to be noisy and the mask uncomfortable. The result is many patients failing to use the device and a recurrence of symptoms.
The good news? There is another option.
Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea
Sleep apnea treatment at Albrecht Family Dentistry is with the use of a custom oral appliance. Like a sports mouthguard, this appliance keeps the jaw properly aligned, so the tongue stays down and the airway remains open. This treatment method is often preferred over a CPAP
machine because it’s comfortable to wear, does not disturb the significant other, and produces just as effective results.
The benefits of oral appliance therapy include:
- Comfortable
- Easy to travel with
- Does not interfere with natural sleeping
- Effective
Many patients in West Bend, Wisconsin, do not realize that they can discuss their sleeping disorder with their dentist. We want our patients to know that we are experienced in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea and chronic snoring efficiently and effectively.
If you are tired of always being tired, it’s time to do something. Let us help improve your quality of sleep and your quality of life. Call Albrecht Family Dentistry today at (262) 357-6622 to schedule an appointment.