What is Sleep Apnea?
One of the best ways to begin sleep apnea treatment is to understand what it is. Sleep Better Fort Collins wants to help our patients be informed about their sleep conditions. Our office helps you receive education, diagnosis, and treatment, all in Fort Collins, CO.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a concerning medical issue where your airway closes for a brief moment while you sleep. This causes you to wake up very briefly, forcing your body to open its airway and resume regular breathing.
This airway collapse can happen from just a couple of times a night up to once every couple of minutes. Your sleep will be interrupted each time your airway closes, causing you to get poor sleep. It also limits how much oxygen your body can get while you sleep.
Even if you are struggling with sleep apnea infrequently, it can still cause major health concerns and painful symptoms.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are 2 main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea or neurological sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is when your airway collapses, preventing you from getting the air you need into your lungs as you sleep. The other kind of sleep apnea, neurological sleep apnea, is when your brain fails to signal to your body that you need to breathe while you sleep.
Of these two types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea is much more common, and it is easier to treat and prevent. This is mainly what we can help you with here at Sleep Better Fort Collins.
Can Dentists Help with Sleep Apnea?
Dentists mostly focus on the care of obstructive sleep apnea; however, they can notice the symptoms of either kind of sleep apnea and help you get help for either kind.
Dentists help with sleep apnea by:
- Evaluating your airway during regular checkups
- Noting the signs of sleep apnea in your mouth and on your teeth
- Providing at-home sleep tests or referrals to sleep apnea doctors
- Making custom mouth guards that replace or work with CPAP
- Educating patients on care, symptoms, and risks
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
Dentists provide an essential option for sleep apnea treatment: a sleep apnea oral appliance. Instead of a CPAP machine that helps you breathe with forced air, an oral appliance helps keep your airway open throughout your sleep.
Sleep apnea oral appliances are placed into your mouth before you sleep, and keep your mouth and jaw slightly open. It is made from a comfortable and slightly flexible dental-safe plastic. We custom-make them to fit over your teeth and into the back of your mouth to help your airway stay open.
Ditch the CPAP machine and find a more comfortable option for treating your sleep apnea!
Health Risks of Sleep Apnea
Leaving your sleep apnea to bother you and interrupt your sleep can risk your health in many ways:
- Gum Disease | Over time, you can contract gingivitis or periodontal disease from dry mouth
- Heart Problems | It risks causing or increasing cardiovascular issues because it strains your airway
- Diabetes | Sleep apnea can worsen diabetes or occur along with diabetes as a symptom
- Mental Health | Your mental and emotional health can take a toll because sleep apnea affects your mood
- Headaches | The loss of air to your brain can cause chronic headaches that can cause permanent pain
We don’t want you to experience the risks of sleep apnea, which is why we provide hassle-free solutions for our patients in the Fort Collins area. If you are worried about the risks of sleep apnea, consider a sleep apnea oral appliance for your sleep apnea today.
Call Us to Learn About Sleep Apnea
We want to educate our patients and help them make healthy decisions. If you are wondering, “What is sleep apnea?” we can answer your questions! Contact our friendly and skilled office by calling us.
