Getting a good night’s rest is essential to living your best life, and when you’re suffering from sleep apnea, getting quality sleep is not always possible. With treatment, however, good sleep is possible. At Austin Prosthodontics, we treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a type of sleep apnea that is characterized by the obstruction of your upper airway during sleep.
What is Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by the repeated obstruction of your airway while you sleep. This causes your breathing to stop and start during sleep, which severely impacts your quality of sleep and the amount of oxygen that your brain recieves. If you have OSA, your tongue falls back against your soft palate, and your soft palate and uvula block the airway at the back of your throat.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Sleepiness
- Snoring
- Headaches
- Depression
- Feeling unwell
Why Treatment is Important
Treating your sleep apnea is essential to your overall wellness. When your airways are blocked, you will not get enough oxygen, and the flow of blood to your brain will be reduced, which is very dangerous. Untreated, prolonged sleep apnea increases your risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes, and more.
Along with preventing other serious side effects, treating sleep apnea can help you stop snoring!
Oral appliance therapy:
If you and Dr. Carmona decide that oral appliance therapy is the right choice for you, Dr. Carmona will take an impression of your teeth to design a customized dental device that will guide your jaw forward such that it prevents the soft tissues (your tongue and soft palate) from blocking or restricting your airway.
CPAP machine:
CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, is a machine designed to treat sleep apnea. The CPAP machine delivers a constant pressure of air through your nose and mouth that prevents the soft tissues from restricting your airway.
If you’re suffering from sleep apnea, don’t wait any longer to treat it. Treating this serious condition is essential to your overall health and wellbeing. Call Dr. Carmona at Austin Prosthodontics today at (512) 910-2864 or request an appointment online.
How We Treat Sleep Apnea
While there are lifestyle modifications you can make to improve your sleep apnea, such as losing weight, sleeping on your side, and avoiding alcohol, medical treatment is oftentimes necessary. At Austin Prosthodontics, Dr. Carmona offers two different treatments for OSA.
