Sleep Apnea Treatment – Gahanna, OH
Sleep Soundly with
Oral Appliance Therapy
Do you snore loudly and frequently? Do you feel tired throughout the day even though you slept through the night? If so, you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea in Gahanna, a serious disorder wherein a person periodically stops breathing throughout the night. We can help you alleviate your symptoms with a small, easy to use oral appliance.
While many people are surprised that their dentist can help their sleeping problems, it’s true! If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms we’ve listed below and just can’t seem to get the rest you need, be sure to contact our dental office today to learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Gahanna, OH.
Why Choose Claybrooke Dental of Gahanna for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- We Accept Dental Insurance
- Customized Sleep Apnea Appliances
- Experienced Team of 3 Dentists
Signs of Sleep Apnea
As mentioned above, loud snoring and feeling exhausted throughout the day are common signs of sleep apnea. Additional indicators include:
- Frequently waking up gasping for air
- Insomnia
- Having to urinate frequently throughout the night
- Mood swings and depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Slowed reaction times
- Poor performance at work or school
- Frequently waking up with a headache or sore throat
- Sexual dysfunction
Who is at Risk?
It is important to note that anyone, regardless of their age, gender, lifestyle choices, or fitness level, can suffer from sleep apnea. If you are suffering symptoms of this condition, you should never conclude that you are too athletic or too young to develop it. With that being said, there are certain groups of individuals who tend to develop this condition more often than others. For example, people considered “obese” due to BMI calculations, particularly those with a large neck circumference, commonly have sleep apnea. It is also quite prevalent in men, older individuals, and people who smoke cigarettes.
Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
While snoring and tiredness might not seem like too big of a deal, sleep apnea is actually an extremely serious condition. Most people need an average of 7 – 9 hours of high-quality sleep each night to function and feel their best. Months or years of not getting that amount of rest can take a toll on systems throughout the body. For example, untreated sleep apnea has been associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. Individuals with sleep apnea are also more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Treating Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by tissues in the throat blocking the upper airway. The goal of sleep apnea treatment, then, is to prevent those tissues from interfering with the free flow of air. Doctors commonly prescribe a CPAP machine to accomplish this. It uses gently pressurized air to keep the airway open. While such a machine is quite effective, many patients complain that it is uncomfortable, noisy, and difficult to travel with.
Dr. Odenweller and Dr. Buller work closely with sleep medicine physicians to determine if an oral appliance is appropriate for you. When utilized as a treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea and snoring, patients enjoy the size, comfort, and portability of oral appliances rather than CPAP machines. These appliances gently move the jaw forward to help prevent the breathing obstructions associated with sleep apnea and snoring. We work with high quality, US based labs to create strong, long-lasting appliances that are custom-fitted to your unique mouth. Working alongside your sleep physician, we will determine which appliance is appropriate for you, may it be SomnoMed, TAP, EMA or SilentNight. Most patients notice positive results from their treatment almost immediately after they begin using it.