Solutions for Sleep Apnea in San Diego, CA
Snoring can be a sign of a serious health issue. Our family dentists in San Diego can help!
What is Sleep Apnea?
Millions of people are affected by this disorder. If you're one of them, we have solutions.
Sleep apnea is a disorder affecting millions of people, sometimes with severe consequences. In fact, it's estimated sleep apnea contributes to 450,000 deaths per year!
What causes sleep apnea? When you sleep, your throat and jaw muscles relax allowing your tongue to block your airway.
As a result, you may stop breathing while you sleep multiple times throughout the night. This keeps much-needed oxygen from reaching your brain, causing your heart to work harder.
Sleep apnea is experienced by both adults and children!
There are many warning signs for sleep apnea. Chronic, loud snoring is one of the most obvious symptoms. Others to watch for include:
- Feeling tired throughout the day
- Insomnia
- Morning headaches
- Attention problems at school or work
- Chronic heartburn
Do you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms? Then you'll be glad to know that we offer a safe, effective treatment for sleep apnea, using a custom-crafted oral appliance that opens up your airway as you sleep!
How Can Your San Diego Dentists Help?
If you're tired of the dreaded CPAP machine, our dentists will work closely with your physician to help treat sleep apnea with a modern and comfortable solution: oral appliance therapy.
Non-Invasive
Often, treatment for sleep apnea uses a CPAP machine, which involves wearing an oxygen mask while you sleep. Many complain the mask is uncomfortable, and the machine is noisy and disruptive to their sleep. An oral appliance is comfortable to wear and will not disrupt your sleep - or others.
No More Snoring
If you are snoring or gasping for breath while you sleep, oral appliance treatment will put a stop to it! You and your family will all be able to get a better night’s sleep and feel well rested in the morning.
Protects Your Health
Using an oral appliance has many benefits. It boosts your metabolism and energy levels, ensures mental clarity, improves your sense of well-being, and protects your overall health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to commonly asked sleep apnea questions from our San Diego dentists.
If sleep apnea is left untreated, it can have serious and life-shortening consequences. Many dangerous medical conditions are associated with sleep apnea, including:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel
- Diabetes
- Depression
- And other ailments
Yes, it can! Certain factors can affect the severity of sleep apnea. Some you can control, some you can't. These include:
- Sleep position - Sleeping on the back makes the condition worse. Try to sleep on your side.
- Alcohol - Alcohol acts as a relaxant and encourages the throat muscles to collapse, cutting off your airflow. Try to avoid drinking alcohol before bedtime.
- Menopause - The lower production of progesterone and estrogen with menopause increases the risk of sleep apnea in women.
- Weight gain
- Aging - The loss of muscle tone that comes with aging can increase the severity of sleep apnea.
Yes, you could. Many people are not aware of the fact their breathing is being interrupted while they sleep or they are snoring.
Often, it's a sleeping partner who will let you know of your nightly habits. Those who live alone may have no idea!
If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, talk with your doctor about having a sleep study done. Then, talk with our dentists about oral appliance therapy.
Could you be suffering from sleep apnea?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you waking up with headaches or a dry mouth and throat?
- Do you forget things easily or have trouble concentrating?
- Is your spouse fed up with your snoring?
- Are you having difficulty losing weight?
If you said "yes" to any of these questions, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. Download our FREE eBook to learn more!
Take Control of Your Health