Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition, in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly as a person sleeps. Millions of Americans live with sleep apnea, and the vast majority of those never have their disorder treated. Up until now, treating sleep apnea meant using CPAP, but if you’re seeking help for sleep apnea in Okemos, your sleep apnea dentist Dr. Christine Tenaglia wants you to know about a no-strings-attached solution to sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea symptoms
Maybe you’re not sure if you suffer from sleep apnea or not. The primary warning sign of this sleep breathing disorder is loud snoring.
Other common symptoms include the following:
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Awakening with dry mouth
- Irritability
- Frequent headaches, especially first thing in the morning
- Difficulty remaining asleep (insomnia)
- Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Teeth grinding
Not to fear, however. You’ll be pleased to know that sleep apnea responds well to treatment! Therapy and device options have come a long way, and recent advances are able to provide a more permanent, corrective solution to the problem.
If you have sleep apnea, CPAP is not the only option
CPAP is the most popular method of treatment for sleep apnea. Standing for continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP is a machine that generates a constant flow of air. You wear a mask that is attached to the machine through a tube, and the airflow helps you maintain an open airway all night long, preventing the blockages that a sleep apnea patient experiences.
CPAP may be popular but you have other options. We prefer oral appliance therapy. You will be fitted with a customized mandibular advancement device; when this mouthpiece is worn, it brings your lower jaw forward, encouraging an open airway. More than 100 oral appliances for sleep apnea have been approved by the FDA thus far; that’s more than 100 different ways that you can breathe more freely during your night’s sleep. An oral airway dilator also is known to work wonders for minimizing that loud snoring, which may be a godsend for your spouse!
Advantages of oral appliances
Oral appliances actually have a higher compliance rate among sleep apnea patients than CPAP.
Patients prefer oral appliance therapy for reasons such as:
- More comfortable than CPAP
- Portable and easy to pack for travel
- Lower cost
- Less invasive
- Easier to communicate and drink liquids
When you treat your sleep apnea in Okemos with an oral appliance, your quality of sleep increases because you’re spending more time in the deepest stages of sleep.` Deep stage sleep enables the brain to function at full capacity, over time. It also is when Human Growth Hormone (HGH)–which controls various functions of the body like tissue repair, healing and brain repair–is released. Deep stage sleep and HGH also help to slow the aging process, curbs depression, fatigue, weight gain, and bolsters your immune system.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Good nights of rest and improved physical and mental health can be just around the corner for you, even if you have an advanced case of sleep apnea. Dr. Christine Tenaglia and her team of oral health professionals are here to help. To schedule your appointment, you can always contact us online or feel free to call us today at (517) 347-6733 to learn more about our sleep apnea treatment options in Okemos!