Finding an Optimal
Sleep Apnea Solution for You
Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can first be noticed in a variety of ways. Whether you face difficulty focusing, are excessively tired after a full night of sleep, snore loudly, or wake up with a dry throat, you may be suffering from OSA.
Here at Triad Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer an at-home sleep test for our patients so they can get the answers they need as fast as possible. We start by asking our patients a few screening questions, and if their score indicates that they could be at risk, we’ll then provide them with their sleep apnea study.
Once you’re officially diagnosed with sleep apnea, our team can help you find a solution that will provide you with great relief and a better night’s sleep.
See Why Patients
Don’t Like CPAP
One of the most commonly used methods of treatment is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. CPAP is a mask that’s worn over your face at night as it continually blows pressurized air through your lungs to open up your airway.
Although it’s typically the first treatment prescribed to patients with sleep apnea, researchers have found that nearly half or more of people who use CPAP don’t consistently stick to treatment.
Many sufferers complain that CPAP is inconvenient, uncomfortable, bulky, loud, and invasive while they sleep. Luckily, with many new advancements in sleep apnea solutions, there are alternatives to CPAP.
Oral Appliances
A Simple, More Comfortable Option
To help our patients sleep soundly through the night without enduring another sleep apnea episode or feeling claustrophobic, we offer oral appliances. These dental made mouthpieces help gently move your jaw forward, allowing oxygen to pass through the throat without any obstruction.
Oral appliances have been found to be highly effective for mild-to-moderate sleep apnea sufferers. They fit snug to your teeth, can be taken anywhere you go, don’t make any sounds, and are easy-to-use.
If you’ve been trying to use your CPAP, but don’t use it regularly, then you should contact Drs. Macdonald and Whaley to see if an oral appliance is right for you.
Other Alternatives for CPAP
There are additional ways to help alleviate your symptoms of sleep apnea. Many sufferers of sleep apnea are overweight, so making simple lifestyle changes to lose weight by working out and eating better will help.
Other ways you can improve your sleep and reduce the risk of sleep apnea episodes include:
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
- Avoid sleeping pills and sedatives
- Change sleeping positions
- Practice throat and mouth exercises
- Ask about surgery
Greensboro, NC
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Do you think you might be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea? We can help you discover your possible disorder with an at-home sleep study. Once you’ve been diagnosed with OSA, we can provide you with a small, effective oral appliance and recommend other CPAP alternatives.
If you’re in Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, and surrounding areas of North Carolina, give us a call today so we can schedule your sleep apnea consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea?
Generally, the most commonly used treatment for sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure machine, which uses a breathing mask during sleep. It works to supply pressurized air flows continuously into the person’s throat.
A more preferred method of treatment that is highly effective for mild to moderate sufferers of sleep apnea is an oral appliance. This small, convenient mouthguard is worn at night and gently moves the lower jaw forward to clear any obstruction in the throat.
How many times an hour do you stop breathing with sleep apnea?
Each sleep apnea episode is different depending on the severity of the condition, and a person can stop breathing anywhere from 5 to 30 times per hour.
For mild cases of sleep apnea, a person will generally stop breathing less than 15 times per hour of sleep, whereas someone with moderate apnea will be interrupted 15 to 29 times per hour.
More severe cases of sleep apnea can stop breathing anywhere from 30 or more times per hour.
What helps sleep apnea naturally?
There are a few different natural lifestyle changes that you could make to help sleep apnea. Changes you can make include:
- Maintain a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly
- Practice yoga
- Avoid smoking tobacco or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
- Alter your sleep position
- Try different throat exercises to strengthen your muscles
How much weight do I need to lose to get rid of sleep apnea?
If you’re overweight or obese and you suffer from sleep apnea, losing the excess weight and following a healthy diet can be an effective treatment for you. You can also decrease your risk of other health complications like heart disease and diabetes.
Committing to a healthy lifestyle can improve your sleep and quality of life overall. By losing as little as 10% of body weight, you can see immediate results with your sleep apnea symptoms.
In some cases, losing a significant amount of weight can even eliminate the disorder from your nighttime slumber.