What is Sleep Apnea?

happy couple snuggling in bed in the early morning Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that interrupts your breathing while you sleep. This is a harmful disorder that needs to be taken seriously. In fact, sleep apnea has been connected to several other health issues, including heart disease and depression.

5 Signs You Have Sleep Apnea

  • Loud Snoring – Does your snoring keep others awake? Does it wake you up throughout the night? Loud snoring may be caused by an obstruction of your breathing.
  • Fatigue – Your brain may wake you up several times throughout the night to jump-start your breathing. This can cause you to feel tired and fatigued all throughout the day, no matter how many total hours you sleep.
  • Depression – Depression has been linked to a lack of good, uninterrupted sleep time.
  • Fall Asleep While Driving – Do you find yourself nodding off while you drive? This, too, is a sign of sleep apnea!
  • Headaches – A common sign of sleep apnea is constant and recurring headaches. This is usually due to lower oxygen levels in the brain while sleeping.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Sleep apnea may feel overwhelming, but there is good news! There are successful treatments available to you to help fight the effects of sleep apnea. At Ponderosa Dental Group, we offer the use of oral appliances.

What Are Oral Appliances?

An oral appliance is a dental sleep device that holds your jaw in a good position while you sleep to keep your airways open. These devices look similar to mouthguards and slip into place before you sleep. Like mouthguards, they are customized to fit your teeth and jaw. We also make mandibular advancement devices that move your lower jaw forward while you sleep to open your airway and prevent snoring. These help you and your partner sleep better.

Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment

  • Lower Health Risks – Treating sleep apnea helps reduce your risk of:
    • Heart Attack
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fatigue
  • Lose Weight – Many patients lose weight after they begin sleep apnea treatment.
  • No More Snoring – Patients report little to no snoring once treatment begins.
  • More Energy – A full night’s uninterrupted rest helps keep you energized and awake throughout the day.

How Do I Get Treatment?

The first step is to make sure you have sleep apnea. You will need to undergo a sleep study. You can go to a sleep clinic or use a take-home kit. We will discuss those options with you. Once your results are in, we can take dental images, which are used to create your oral appliance.

Don’t Sleep on Sleep Apnea!

At Ponderosa Dental Group, we know sleep apnea is scary, but there is hope! With treatment, you can conquer sleep apnea. Take the first step – call for your appointment today!