Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that results in stops in breathing while one is sleeping. The suffocation that ensues can lead to health problems, including memory loss, weight gain, fatigue, mood changes, and hypertension. There are many sleep apnea treatments that we can offer our patients at Knight Dental Care in Midland, MI. Dr. Edward Knight uses dental options to help his patients to resolve their sleeping problems. He offers custom night guards that give comfortable and reliable support to help them sleep better, resulting in overall better health.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that results in stops and starts in breathing during sleep. There are different types of sleep apnea, including:
- Central sleep apnea: This occurs when the brain doesn’t send proper signals to muscles to control breathing.
- Obstructive sleep apnea: This is the most common type that occurs when throat muscles relax, promoting starts and stops in breathing.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome: This occurs when someone has both of the two types mentioned above.
If you think you might have sleep apnea, schedule an appointment with Dr. Knight at Knight Dental Care. He offers his patients in Midland, MI treatment options such as sleep apnea dental appliances that can ease symptoms and prevent more health problems from occurring.
Symptoms of sleep apnea
Sleep apnea symptoms can overlap, which makes it hard to know which type you have. The most common symptoms associated with sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Episodes where you wake up because you stop breathing
- Dry mouth when you wake up
- Gasping for air after waking up
- Morning headaches
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia (daytime sleepiness)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Moodiness
If you’re experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, you should schedule an appointment at Knight Dental Care to determine if you need a dental device for sleep apnea.
Who can use dental treatments to treat their sleep apnea?
If you have mild or moderate snoring problems, a dental alternative, such as night guards or a CPAP machine, may help. Sleep apnea is dangerous because it stops you from breathing countless times each night. When this occurs, your airway is blocked, which prevents oxygen from reaching your brain and other organs. It’s important to be diagnosed and treated at Knight Dental Care. Dr. Knight has helped countless patients in and around Midland, MI to resolve their sleep apnea and to sleep better once again.
How is sleep apnea treated at the dentist’s office?
Sleep apnea treatment with Dr. Knight is addressed with oral appliance therapy. This has been proven to be effective for sleep apnea. This customized device fits over the mouth at night and is similar to a sports mouth guard. The difference is that it pulls your jaw forward, keeping the airway open instead of just protecting your teeth from harm. After he examines your tongue, airway, and jaw, he can custom make your night guard. Once it is ready, you will revisit our Midland, MI office for a fitting, and adjustments can be made as needed to give you the most comfortable fit. We will go over how to use the dental appliance properly for the best results.
Treat your sleep apnea with dental appliances
If your breathing is interrupted throughout the night because of sleep apnea, you need medical care right away. When you’re experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment with Dr. Edward Knight at Knight Dental Care in Midland, MI. He specializes in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea and other sleep disorders in patients of all ages. We can answer any of your questions about the costs associated with dental appliance treatment, whether a night guard or PAP dental appliance, at your initial consultation. Call us today to schedule this important appointment and to repair your health.