Dental sleep medicine is an area of dental practice that focuses on the use of oral appliance therapy to treat sleep-disordered breathing, including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Approximately 54 million adults in the U.S. have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic condition that occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. This can cause you to stop breathing hundreds of times per night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute at a time. These breathing pauses are followed by brief awakenings that disturb your sleep and can result in excessive daytime sleepiness.
If you have trouble tolerating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or prefer an alternative treatment for sleep apnea, call our office today. Both Dr. Hammerbeck and Dr. Zalec will work with your physician or specialists to provide the best care and treatment for your obstructive sleep apnea. Our qualified dentists can make a customized appliance for you that will help reduce your snoring and improve your sleep without a loud or bulky machine.
Signs and symptoms when you’re sleeping:
- Loud or frequent snoring
- Restlessness during sleep
- Silent pauses in breathing
- Choking or gasping sounds
- Clenching/grinding
- Acid reflux
Signs and symptoms when you’re awake:
- Waking in the morning feeling unrefreshed
- Daytime sleepiness
- Lack of energy
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Morning headaches
- Waking up frequently at night to go to the bathroom
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
Leaving OSA untreated can result in many serious health issues, including weight gain, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, ADD/ADHD, an increased risk of cancer, and dementia.
Advantages of oral appliance therapy:
- Quiet
- Portable
- Comfortable and easy to wear
- Easy to clean
- Minimal disturbances to others
If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or chronically snore, contact Pulaski Dental for a consultation. Dr. Hammerbeck and Dr. Zalec can provide you with effective treatment options to improve your sleep and your health.
