Sleep Apnea Treatments in Midland, MI

Sleep apnea is recognized by persistent stops in breathing while you sleep, which is a result of your muscles relaxing and gravity pulling your airways closed. The momentary suffocation that results from this produces excessive stress on the body, which can lead to a number of cardiovascular conditions, including memory loss, mood change, weight gain, fatigue, and hypertension. There are many snoring or sleep apnea alternatives varying from airway surgeries, like a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or maxillofacial surgery, to a CPAP machine. However, in some situations, you may want to turn to dental options to help resolve the problem. At Knight Dental Care, we focus on creating custom-fit night guards to offer relief to our Midland, MI sleep apnea patients. Cosmetic and general dentist Dr. Edward Knight is pleased to offer this easy, comfortable, and reliable support that will help you attain better health, well-being, and sleep.

A personalized sleep apnea treatment designed by Dr. Knight offers a range of great benefits to improve your health and quality of life, including:

• Improved sleep
• Reduced snoring and waking
• Reduced risk for heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer
• Reduced risk of depression and anxiety
• Improved mental focus and concentration
• Improved mental and emotional health
• Helps patients wake feeling more rested and refreshed

If you have a mild to moderate snoring issue, a dental alternative, instead of a bulky sleep apnea machine (CPAP), may be just what you want. Sleep apnea could be dangerous since it stops you from breathing normally hundreds of times a night when the cells in your soft palate and throat collapse. When this happens, your airway is blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching your organs or brain. It is vital to get it properly diagnosed and treated using the best options available. At Knight Dental Care, Dr. Knight can help diagnose and treat your sleep apnea to help you get a good night's sleep. If you suffer from severe sleep apnea, you likely aren't an ideal candidate for a dental-based sleep apnea remedy. In such scenarios, a CPAP machine might be one of the greatest choices for your best comfort and health.

Sleep apnea treatment with Dr. Knight at Knight Dental Care is addressed using oral appliance therapy (OAT), which can be an extremely effective treatment for sleep apnea. It is a customized device that fits in your mouth at night and is often compared to a sports mouth guard or a retainer. The most important difference is that instead of guarding your teeth from harm, it gently pulls your jaw into a forward position, keeping your airway open. There are over 100 different models on the market so Dr. Knight will work with you to be certain you receive the best option for your specific needs. After performing an evaluation of your jaw, tongue, airway, and teeth, Dr. Knight will have digital x-rays performed so impressions of your teeth can be made and your custom OAT created. Once your OAT is ready, Knight Dental Care will call you for your fitting and will make any adjustments needed to make it as comfortable as possible for you. Dr. Knight or one of his team members will go over how to properly care for your mouthpiece as well.

How common is sleep apnea?

As many as 25% of men and 10% of women are affected by sleep apnea.

What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?

• Fatigue, tiredness, or sleepiness during the day
• Morning headaches
• Excessively loud snoring
• Waking up suddenly with gasping or choking
• Observed episodes of breathing stopped during sleeping
• Mental fog or difficulty concentrating
• Sore throat with dry mouth in the morning

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

Men are more prone to sleep apnea than women. It usually affects men ages 35 — 65, and risks for sleep apnea are increased for individuals who are obese or overweight, drink alcohol excessively, and have hypertension or coronary heart disease.

What health risks are associated with sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea causes oxygen deprivation during sleep and unhealthy sleep, which can result in physical and mental fatigue. People with sleep apnea are also at a higher risk for stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

If your breathing was interrupted numerous times every day from your airway being blocked, you would seek treatment straight away. However, if the exact same thing happens in your sleep, you might not even recall it happening when you wake up. If you think you might be experiencing sleep apnea, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at Knight Dental Care at your first convenience. Our Midland, MI office assistants are happy to help you schedule an appointment or answer any questions you have about sleep apnea, costs, and financing.