Sleep Apnea Treatment Houston, TXSleep Apnea Treatment in Houston provided by Dr. Frank Dunlap at Frank Dunlap, DDS  Do you spend most of your nights tossing and turning? You may be one of the many people with sleep apnea. Over 25 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, yet most are unaware that they have one. Only 16 percent of individuals with sleep disorders seek treatment for their ailment. Our highly trained dentists at Frank Dunlap, DDS can help by treating you with oral appliances.Our team works closely with physicians to treat snoring and sleep apnea. At your first visit, our team will talk with you about the benefits of treatment. You will also receive information on the potential side effects and the cost of therapy. Our team will conduct a complete clinical evaluation. This will include examining your teeth, jaw, tongue and airway, and possibly taking an x-ray of your mouth. Request an Appointment Also On This Page:
What is Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing repeatedly stops and restarts during the night. This can prevent your body from getting enough oxygen to function properly. Sleep apnea causes individuals to stop breathing at regular intervals throughout the night. In some cases, it is severe enough that the patient may wake up choking or gasping for breath. If sleep apnea is not taken seriously and treated appropriately, it can lead to more serious illnesses, including depression and heart disease. Sleep apnea can also lead to drowsiness and other ailments. There are three different kinds of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea which is known as (OSA) is the most commonly occurring. It is very common for people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea to have their upper airway blocked several times during sleep, resulting in reduced or complete airflow. There is a high likelihood that you will suffer from obstructive sleep apnea if you have any conditions that may narrow your airways, such as obesity, large tonsils, or changes in your hormone levels. When sleep apnea is triggered due to a problem with the brain’s signal, it is called central sleep apnea also known as (CSA). When an individual has OSA and CSA, it is called complex sleep apnea syndrome (CSAS). What Causes Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea does not affect everyone. Although it can strike anyone at any age, not everyone exhibits symptoms. It can even affect children. There are many contributing factors that can make patients more susceptible to sleep apnea. Those individuals who smoke, have a family history of sleep apnea, thicker than normal necks, people who drink alcohol, and even the elderly are all at a higher risk. Other factors increasing the chances of sleep apnea include nasal congestion, heart disorders, and history of stroke, among others. What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?There are many symptoms of sleep apnea. Some of them include snoring loudly and waking up gasping. Also, extreme dry mouth is another symptom. You might have sleep apnea if you wake up with a morning headache. If you have difficulty sleeping, irregular sleeping habits, or difficulty falling asleep - popularly known as insomnia - you may be experiencing the symptoms of sleep apnea. Difficulty staying focused when you are not sleeping and irritability are also symptoms of sleep apnea. To diagnose sleep apnea, it is important to become aware of these symptoms including frequent loud snoring, exhaustion from lack of breathing while sleeping, lack of memory, morning fatigue, weight loss or gain, heartburn, recurrent headaches, and nighttime perspiration. Consult your primary care doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. The use of oral appliance therapy may be a treatment option if it is determined that you have sleep apnea. Can You Die From Sleep Apnea?Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. There are several complications associated with this, such as daytime fatigue, high blood pressure or heart problems, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, complications with medications and surgery, liver problems, and partners who are sleep deprived. While it is not common, you can die from sleep apnea. Can Sleep Apnea Be Cured?Generally, sleep apnea is a chronic condition that does not go away. After adolescence, the human anatomy tends to remain fixed. The good news is that sleep apnea in children can be successfully and definitively treated. The removal of tonsils and adenoids, allergy treatment, and orthodontic therapy to expand the hard palate, called rapid maxillary expansion, are among the options. Other surgical options are available to adults and teenagers. One of the most successful surgeries is jaw advancement. Approximately 80% of patients can benefit from this treatment to resolve sleep apnea. During this surgery, the jawbones are restructured and fixed in place, and the facial profile is changed to improve the airflow through the nose and mouth. In general, other surgeries are less effective than others at changing the anatomy. Oral appliance therapy is a treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apea. It involves wearing a removable oral appliance in your mouth as you sleep. The device fits much like a sports mouthguard or orthodontic retainer. An oral appliance prevents your airway from collapsing be either holding the tongue or supporting the jaw in a forward position. You must be custom fitted for an oral appliance for it to be effective. An oral appliance fits like an orthodontic retainer, which you can wear only during sleep. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway. Research shows that oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apea. If you decide that oral appliance therapy is the best treatment option for you, our professionals will prescribe a custom-made oral appliance. Our professionals will recommend the oral appliance that is best for you. Call Us Today to Get Started on Your Journey to Better Sleep!Our goal is to help you achieve the rest you deserve so that you can have a good night's sleep. If you suffer from sleep apnea, we can assist you in determining which oral appliance or treatment would be most effective for you. If you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists who specializes in sleep apnea treatment at Frank Dunlap, DDS, please call (346) 576-4411 today. Request an Appointment |
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