Sleep Apnea Treatment – Oklahoma City, OK
Wake Up Feeling Great Again
Does your partner complain about your loud, chronic snoring every night? Do you find yourself constantly feeling exhausted despite how much you sleep? Have you experienced problems with memory, focus, or even almost fallen asleep behind the wheel?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you could be suffering from sleep apnea, the second most common sleep disorder in the country. It’s believed that over 20 million Americans struggle with it every night, robbing them of their sleep and their health at the same time. Fortunately, at Grand Dental Studio, we’re able to help patients overcome both snoring and sleep apnea with a custom-made treatment that can fit right in your pocket. What is it? Read on below to learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Oklahoma City.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where a person experiences short and frequent interruptions in their breathing during sleep. Most of the time, this is caused by the soft tissues in the mouth and throat relaxing into and blocking the airway, which is known as obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA.
When the breathing is halted, the body is forced to partially wake up in order to restore proper oxygen flow. This can occur dozens of times an hour, and it prevents a person from getting the deep, restful sleep their body needs. These breathing stoppages also lead to a drastic increase in blood pressure that can last for several hours afterward, making a person much more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. In fact, the American Sleep Apnea Association estimates that nearly 38,000 cardiovascular-related deaths are directly tied to sleep apnea.
The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
- Loud snoring every night
- Waking up gasping or out of breath
- Persistent daytime exhaustion despite getting 7-9 hours of sleep
- Problems with memory/focus
- Mood swings/depression
- Issues with weight gain/keeping weight off
How We Can Help with Sleep Apnea
Traditionally, the primary treatment for sleep apnea is CPAP therapy, wherein a patient wears a facial mask to bed that is connected to an air pump which forces oxygen into the throat to keep it open and unobstructed. As you can imagine, many patients find this extremely uncomfortable! In fact, research has shown that about 50% of CPAP patients stop using it after the first year.
At Grand Dental Studio, we can provide a viable alternative called oral appliance therapy. For this, your dentist will design a custom-made appliance that you’ll simply wear to bed. It will slightly shift the jaw forward to keep the airway open, and that’s it! No masks, no air pumps, no having to plug-in before bed. This method is safe, effective, and recommended by sleep doctors around the country.
Come Get the Rest You Deserve
If you believe that you may have sleep apnea, or if you already have a diagnosis for it, we’re ready to help you take back the night. You’ll be amazed by how much better you feel when you’re getting the sleep you need, and you’ll also be pleasantly surprised by how simple our treatment is. To learn more about sleep apnea or get a specially-made oral appliance, contact us today.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
How is a dentist qualified to treat sleep apnea?
This is a question we get all the time, and it’s a good one! Dentists are not just experts when it comes to the teeth—their training, education, and experience give them a deep knowledge of the entirety of the oral anatomy, including the throat (or upper airway). Most of the physical symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea occur in the mouth and throat, meaning that a dentist like Dr. Kirk can be trusted to adjust them in a way that will help a patient breathe better while they sleep.
Can I treat sleep apnea at home?
Sort of. Lifestyle changes like losing weight, reducing alcohol, and taking fewer sedating medications close to bed are all things that can reduce sleep apnea symptoms, but they are easier said than done. The process can take several months, during which a patient is being impacted by sleep apnea every single night. For people hoping to make these changes, we typically recommend getting a sleep appliance right away so they start sleeping better immediately, and this will actually give them more energy and motivation to follow through with these long-term adjustments.
Can I buy a sleep appliance off the shelf?
Yes, but that doesn’t mean you should! Most generic sleep appliances claim they can help someone stop snoring or teeth grinding, but the truth is that they tend to not help or make the problem much worse. Because they are one-size-fits-all, the appliances can be really bulky and uncomfortable, and for those with sleep apnea, they can cause breathing throughout the night to be even more difficult. When it comes to comfort and effectiveness, you’re always better off getting a custom-made appliance from a dentist.
Is a sleep appliance covered by insurance?
Yes, but it’s a bit tricky. An oral sleep appliance can often be covered by health insurance, NOT dental insurance—even if the appliance is provided by a dentist. The reason is that the appliance is being used to address a medical problem, not a dental one. We can look over your policies and let you know how you can use your benefits when you come to see us in person so you can better understand how this applies to your unique situation.