Do you suffer from sleep apnea? When left undiagnosed and untreated, sleep apnea can have serious consequences and negatively affect your total body health. Dr. Wood in Grand Haven, MI creates custom night guards as a less invasive form of sleep apnea treatment. Custom-made night guards are a more comfortable solution for patients suffering from sleep apnea and its side effects.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by continual pauses in breathing during sleep, caused by a combination of your muscles relaxing during sleep and gravity pulling your airway closed simultaneously. Sleep apnea can lead to several serious conditions including hypertension, memory loss, mood change, weight gain, and severe fatigue.
What Are The Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea?
Patients who suffer from sleep apnea frequently complain of:
- Heavy Snoring
- Periodic Loss Of Breath While Sleeping
- Struggling To Breathe While Sleeping
- Constant Fatigue And Lack Of Energy
- Weight Gain
- Depression
- Dry Throat
- Irritability & Mood Swings
Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, 22 million people have sleep apnea in the United States alone. This can be a serious condition, especially when left untreated. If you have been diagnosed with, or suspect that you have this condition, you could be at a higher risk for:
- Stroke
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Depression
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Diabetes
- Worsening ADHD
What Treatments Are Available For Sleep Apnea?
If Dr. Wood suspects that you may have sleep apnea, our team will coordinate treatment with a sleep specialist to provide an official diagnosis and to ensure you get the treatment you need! If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you will likely be provided with either a CPAP machine or an oral appliance for treatment.
A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine is the most common treatment for most people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. The CPAP machine has a small air blower connected to a cushioned plastic mask that covers your nose. The blower forces air through a flexible hose into the mask to help keep your airways open while you sleep.
We make custom oral appliances, otherwise known as mandibular repositioning appliances, that are designed to open airways during sleep to provide relief from symptoms of sleep apnea. Generally, patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea prefer oral appliances over bulky CPAP machines.
For whatever sleep apnea treatment is best for you, Grand Haven Dental Care will be there for you every step of the way.
We Bill Through Medical Insurance!
Most dentists do not bill through patients' medical insurance for sleep apnea treatment, but we do! Here, you can receive a thorough screening from the dentist you know and trust, without needing to seek help from an outside specialist.
If you have questions about the medical insurance billing process, please call today to speak with our patient coordinator!
Schedule Your Sleep Apnea Screening With Grand Haven Dental Care Today
Don't let sleep apnea get in the way of your quality of life or health! Call Grand Haven Dental Care today to schedule your sleep apnea screening.