Overcome Sleep Apnea and Snoring with Effective Treatment

Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder that deprives patients of enough oxygen when sleeping because of a stoppage in breathing. When breathing is interrupted, the patient fails to get adequate rest because the oxygen-deprived brain has to rouse the body multiple times throughout the night. If sleep apnea is left untreated, it results in numerous health complications, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and depression. 

Suspect you have sleep apnea in Noblesville, Indiana? Please book an appointment with Robert L. Holloway, DDS, for proper diagnosis and treatment. 

Symptoms of sleep apnea

Men and women who are overweight are at a higher risk of sleep apnea, although anyone can develop sleep apnea owing to the shape of the inside of the nose or throat. Most people suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which happens when the muscles that support the soft tissues in your throat relax, obstructing the airway. While rare, you may also suffer from sleep apnea if the brain fails to send the right signals to the breathing muscles. 

The most common symptom of sleep apnea patients is chronic snoring as air moves past the narrowed airway. The other common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Morning headaches
• Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth
• Daytime fatigue
• Poor concentration
• Reduced sex drive
• Trouble staying asleep (insomnia)

How we treat sleep apnea

CPAP therapy is usually the go-to treatment for many sleep apnea patients. A CPAP device — complete with a mask — blows air into the airway throughout the night, preventing the tissues at the back of the mouth from collapsing. While CPAPs work, they are bulky and noisy and require electricity. As a result, many patients discontinue this therapy against the doctor’s orders. Of course, a therapy you aren’t using isn’t any therapy at all!

If you find a CPAP machine loud and irritating, we can help. We can prescribe a custom mouthguard that repositions your lower jaw to keep your airway open throughout. When you wear a custom mouthguard all night, you wake up refreshed after a restful night’s sleep. A nightguard can also combat snoring even if you don’t have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea mouthguard near me

Are you looking for obstructive sleep apnea treatment in Noblesville, IN? Want to win the battle against chronic snoring? Please dial (317) 672-0950 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Robert Holloway to establish whether a custom nightguard is right for you.

Sleep Apnea

Video Transcript

Do you snore excessively? Do you suffer from daytime fatigue? Do you awake during the night with shortness of breath? You may suffer from the life-threatening sleep disorder known as sleep apnea. About 1 in every 15 Americans suffer from sleep apnea and it is a problem that many don’t even realize they might have. But what does this have to do with dentistry? Because sleep apnea is caused by an airway obstruction, the disorder can be treated through the mouth. The Thorton adjustable positioner, or Tap appliance is one of the more popular ways to treat sleep apnea. When the jawbone yes lax, the tongue and soft tissue obstruct the airway. The tap appliance advances the jaw bone, allowing the air to flow freely and making sleep more restful throughout the night. If you think you might suffer from sleep apnea, talk to your dentist today about possible treatment options.