Is snoring keeping you up at night? At Moorpark Center for Dentistry, it’s not uncommon for us to hear of sleepless nights and groggy days from our patients. The most common question asked of Dr. Potts, however, is “What’s a dentist got to do with it?”
As it turns out, a lot! Using oral repositioning airway appliances for sleep apnea as an accepted part of conservative treatment can be very effective!
As a qualified sleep dentist in snoring and sleep apnea, Dr. Potts work with a sleep specialist to rehabilitate patients with sleep deprivation. Together, they determine the seriousness of the condition, and the treatment that will improve the patient’s quality of life.
So, what is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing stops periodically during sleep, as many as 20 to 30 times per hour. Each time you stop breathing in your sleep, the resulting lack of oxygen alerts your brain, which temporarily wakes you up to restart proper breathing. Since the time spent awake is so brief, most people with sleep apnea don’t remember it.
The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Loud snoring at night
- Waking up at night short of breath
- Snorting or choking sounds during the night (indicating a restart of breathing)
- Headaches upon waking in the morning
- Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
- Extreme drowsiness throughout the day
- Memory loss
- Impotence
What can you do if you have sleep apnea?
Your first step should be to contact our office and schedule a sleep apnea consult. From there, Dr. Potts can create a treatment plan which may include the use of an oral appliance.
Oral appliances that treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are small plastic devices that are worn in the mouth, similar to orthodontic retainers or sports mouthguards. These appliances help prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat, and keep the airway open during sleep and promote adequate air intake.
Living life without an adequate amount of sleep can be detrimental to your physical and mental health. If you have any questions about sleep apnea, feel free to contact our Moorpark, CA office, where a member of our team will be more than happy to help.