Are you sick of not sleeping well and feeling tired throughout your day? Are your sleep problems affecting how you feel daily? If you answered yes to these questions, you need to schedule an appointment at Knight Dental Care for sleep apnea treatment in Midland, MI. Dr. Edward Knight, a sleep apnea dentist, provides oral appliances therapy that gives those suffering from sleep apnea symptoms relief. Understanding the signs of sleep apnea helps you know when it’s important to call our office to schedule a consultation.
What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your breathing pauses because of either a blocked or collapsed airway. When you have severe sleep apnea in Midland, MI, you do not get the proper amount of oxygen when you are asleep. When this is left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems, including:
- A higher risk of developing heart disease, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, or stroke
- Increased levels of liver enzymes
Dr. Knight treats sleep disorders with a dental appliance to help you feel more energized throughout the day. During a consultation, he helps you understand the link between dentistry and sleep apnea. A mouth guard pulls your jaw forward, which keeps your airway open while you’re asleep.
Sleep apnea symptoms
Some common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Stopped breathing when asleep that wakes you up
- Morning headaches
- Waking up with a dry mouth and/or sore throat
- Difficulty concentrating throughout the day
- Constant fatigue
- Nighttime sweating
When you think you’re experiencing signs of sleep apnea, it’s important to schedule an appointment at Knight Dental Care to learn about sleep apnea treatment.
What is oral appliance therapy?
Dr. Knight offers sleep apnea treatment to patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. These free sleep apnea consultations help patients find relief from their sleep problems. After performing an evaluation of your tongue, airway, teeth, and jaw, he takes digital X-rays so that impressions of your teeth can be made. This helps to create a custom oral appliance for you. Once it’s ready, you will revisit our Midland, MI office for a fitting. Dr. Knight can make any necessary adjustments to ensure it’s comfortable. He can also discuss how to properly care for your mouthpiece to maintain good oral health.
Can losing weight reverse sleep apnea?
Different health conditions increase the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. Excess weight creates fat deposits in the neck called pharyngeal fat. Pharyngeal fat can potentially block your upper airway during sleep when this airway is already relaxed. This is why snoring is one of the most common sleep apnea symptoms. Air is being squeezed through a restricted airway, which causes the loud noise from snoring. So, losing weight can decrease fat in the neck, which leads to this compression of the airway.
Why does sleep apnea cause weight gain?
Sleep apnea patients may be more susceptible to weight gain than people who have the same BMI and health status but don’t have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea depletes people of the energy they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When you’re experiencing daytime fatigue, you’re more likely to be sedentary, which can lead to weight gain. Sleep apnea weight gain is detrimental to your health, and a consultation with Dr. Knight can help improve your sleeping and your health at the same time.
Learn how to treat sleep apnea near me
You should always feel rested when you wake up. Protecting your oral health and overall health from the harmful effects of sleep apnea is important. At Knight Dental Care, we use sleep apnea treatment to help improve our patient’s health. During a visit to our Midland, MI dental office, we can discuss treatment options, including oral appliances. Our team works with your insurance company to prove it’s necessary for your health to get you the necessary coverage. Schedule an appointment for your sleep apnea treatment consultation today.