Dental Sleep Medicine

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Say Hello to a Good Night's Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep leaves you feeling recharged and refreshed. If you are not getting a good night's sleep due to heavy snoring or Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Great Blue Dental may be able to help you achieve a perfect night's sleep with our dental sleep treatment.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea can cause interrupted sleep and low blood oxygen levels. For people who have OSA, the combination of sleep deprivation and oxygen starvation can result in hypertension, heart disease, and memory problems.

All forms of sleep apnea can be life-threatening. It is important to determine the root cause of sleep apnea or it can be difficult to treat If you or someone you know has any sleep apnea symptoms, call us at (715) 732-2601 to schedule an appointment.

Sleep Apnea - Printable PDF

Sleep disorders can affect anyone.

A neck greater than 17" around for men and 16" for women
Children who snore, have enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and certain dental malocclusions
Crowding of upper or lower teeth
Disproportionate oral features of any age
Extraction of multiple adult teeth (including for orthodontic reasons)
Family history of sleep apnea
Narrow upper or lower jaw
Nasal obstruction (deviated septum)
Overweight men or over the age of 40
Sinus or allergy issues

There are various symptoms and combinations of sleep apnea.

ADD and ADHD symptoms(especially in children)
Choking or gasping sensation that wakes you up
Clenching or bruxing
Decreased sex drive and/or Impotence
Depression
Diabetes
Dry mouth
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Gastric reflux
High blood pressure
Unable to sleep through the night
Insomnia
Memory and concentration difficulties
Morning headaches or migraines
Poor job performance or problems in school
Severe anxiety
Snoring
Sore throat
Tiredness (regardless of the amount of hours that you sleep)
Weight gain or inability to lose weight

Consequences of untreated sleep apnea can lead to poor quality of life or fatal consequences.

Some consequences include:

Cancer
Cardiovascular problems (heart attack and stroke)
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Intellectual deterioration
Low libido and poor sexual function
Obesity

Snoring Treatment and Sleep Apnea

Depending on diagnosis, sleep apnea treatment may be just a lifestyle change such as weight loss or dietary changes. Others may benefit from the help of a specially designed oral appliance to prevent airway blockage. More severe cases of sleep apnea may require surgical intervention to prevent upper airway obstruction.

Our dentists will examine your living habits and make recommendations including avoidance of alcohol or sedatives. We may also suggest the use of pillows to alter your nighttime breathing habits.

Severe cases require mechanical therapy with a mechanical device called a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). The person uses a mask with an air blower to force air through the upper airway, assuring constant inhalation of adequate amounts of oxygen.

Almost two-thirds of people who are given a CPAP do not wear it correctly. If you have been diagnosed with mild or moderate sleep apnea or have found that a CPAP device helps eliminate apnea episodes and symptoms like snoring, but the CPAP device is too intrusive to use regularly, oral appliance therapy may benefit you.

Oral appliances from our dental practice can be effective in reducing reliance on a CPAP machine. Our dentists can fit you with a custom oral device to eliminate apnea episodes by opening the airway so that you can get a peaceful and healthy night's sleep. These customized devices gently advance the lower jaw and tongue to keep your airway open to reduce and even eliminate breathing issues and snoring.

We have exceptional training in sleep apnea. Our team with your physician will help you decide which dental sleep medicine treatment or combination of treatments will work best for you.

Call us today to learn more.