YOUR GUIDE TO SLEEP APNEA

Say Goodbye to Sleepless Nights

Don’t let sleepless nights impact your daily routine any longer. If you feel like you’re constantly exhausted throughout the day and find yourself struggling to sleep, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder. At Triad Cosmetic Dentistry, we provide treatments for sleep apnea to help you achieve quality sleep and feel better throughout the day. Learn all about sleep apnea and our innovative treatments with our guide below.

This video provides an overview of obstructive sleep apnea and the serious and dangerous complications to your overall health that can result if it is left untreated.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that causes lapses in breathing during sleep. When these lapses in breathing occur, your body will typically jolt you awake but it’s uncommon for patients to remember these episodes. That’s why some patients may not even know they suffer from a sleep disorder. 

Types of Sleep Apnea

The sleep disorder can be seen in different forms, however, there are two that are the most common — obstructive and central. There’s also a third type of sleep apnea called mixed sleep apnea, which is a combination of the two. The general population suffers mostly from obstructive sleep apnea, but it’s crucial to know the difference between the two.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form and occurs when an obstruction in your throat interrupts your breathing pattern. The obstruction typically happens when the soft muscles in the throat relax, blocking the airway and causing you to snore. You’ll stop breathing for seconds at a time, which your brain will recognize and wake you up. It’s so brief that most people don’t remember waking. However, this pattern can repeat up to 30 times throughout the night, taking a toll on your sleep quality.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain and the nervous system fail to communicate through proper breathing signals. This means your ability to breathe is impaired and you may wake up short of breath or have trouble falling asleep.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

It’s common to suffer from sleep apnea and not even know it. That’s why it’s important to know what to look out for. Some of the most common sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Frequent snoring
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Waking up with a dry or sore throat
• Lack of energy and motivation 
• Morning headaches
• Mood changes, like irritability or depression
• Difficulty concentrating
• Reduced libido 
• Recent weight gain
• Memory loss

If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms listed above, don’t hesitate to call our Archdale office at (336) 434-3186 to make an appointment.

Sleep Apnea’s Risk to Your Health

Not only does sleep apnea affect your daily life, but it can also take a toll on your overall health. Research has found that sleep apnea can increase your risk of heart failure, type 2 diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure. To help avoid these life-threatening ailments, it’s best to seek out treatment as soon as you or a loved one suspect the sleep disorder.

Risk Factors of Sleep Apnea

Some factors that are associated with sleep apnea and may increase your risk of developing it include:

• Gender — males are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea
• Age — older adults typically suffer from sleep apnea
• Being overweight or obese
• A large neck circumference 
• Enlarged tissues, such as tonsils or adenoids
• Tobacco intake
• Alcohol consumption

Our Sleep Apnea

Treatments

At Triad Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Keith Macdonald has completed additional training courses and gained knowledge through lecture seminars on all aspects of dental sleep treatments and airway evaluation. By doing so, he’s able to help patients receive a proper diagnosis for their sleep apnea right here at our dental office through a valid, FDA-approved sleep test. This is the only way to detect sleep apnea so patients can get started on effective treatments with confidence.

Your diagnosis appointment will include

• A complete sleep evaluation
• Rhinometer analysis to easily measure your nasal capacity
• Pharyngometer analysis to measure your airway size and stability

Oral Appliance Therapy

While CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is the most prescribed treatment, nearly half or more of CPAP users complain that it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, and too noisy. That’s why we offer a smaller, non-invasive treatment for patients who can’t stand CPAP — an oral appliance. 

Oral appliances are used to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. An oral appliance works by preventing the tongue from blocking the throat and closing the airway. They’re custom-made specifically for you for a comfortable fit. Patients often opt for oral appliances as they’re a quiet, convenient, portable, and effective solution to treating sleep apnea. This treatment is much more comfortable for patients, allowing them to sleep soundly through the night to help them regain their energy.

Schedule Your Consultation With Dr. Macdonald Today!

Don’t let sleep apnea wreak havoc on your life any longer. With customized and effective treatments, you can make sleep apnea a thing of the past. To learn more about our sleep apnea treatment options at Triad Cosmetic Dentistry, call our Archdale office at (336) 434-3186. You can also get in touch by filling out our easy online contact form. We proudly serve the Winston-Salem, High Point, and Greensboro areas.