Do you wake up less than refreshed, day after day? Has your roommate or spouse told you that you snore loudly and interrupt his or her sleep? As a family dentist in Naperville, IL, Dr. Thomas Brown has helped husbands and wives, as well as single individuals, overcome the noise and poor sleep quality caused by obstructive sleep apnea.
If you need help with obstructive sleep apnea or snoring, call us today at 630-369-3120 to schedule an appointment with one of our talented dentists in Naperville, IL.
About Obstructive Sleep Apnea
According to the National Council on Aging, about 39 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. While people of any age can develop OSA, the risk increases with age, weight, and genetic predisposition. Also, more men than women have the condition.
OSA occurs when soft tissues in the back of the mouth and throat collapse to block airflow, thus causing breathing to stop for 10 or more seconds, up to two minutes. These apnoeic episodes repeat a minimum of five times per hour, but up to hundreds of times inside an hour. Not taking in sufficient oxygen results in lowered blood oxygen levels, which causes health concerns and risk of death.
Usually, the OSA patient is not aware that he or she stops breathing during sleep. This is because when the brain recognizes that the blood needs more oxygen, it alerts the body to wake just enough to resume breathing. The patient then falls back asleep with no memory of the event. In some cases, though, the patient awakes abruptly, gasping, choking, or coughing in an effort to breathe.
For more information on obstructive sleep apnea or snoring, talk with your dentist in Naperville, IL, at the office of Thomas F. Brown, DDS. Call 630-369-3120 to schedule an appointment today.
Symptoms and Side Effects of OSA
Without treatment, OSA poses a risk of these complications:
- Daytime drowsiness
- Falling asleep during the day, during periods of low stimulation
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Arrhythmias
- Insulin resistance
- Type 2 diabetes
- Mood swings
- Memory issues
- Poor concentration
- Poor decision making
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Pregnancy complications
- High accident risk
- Decreased quality of life
- Higher risk for GERD, liver problems, and surgical recovery and anesthesia complications
- Sexual dysfunction
- Death
Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy
Many patients respond well to oral appliance therapy, or OAT, for obstructive sleep apnea. This therapy uses a compact mouth appliance worn overnight to keep the airway open. By pulling the lower jaw slightly forward, an OAT allows free airflow and, as a bonus, stops a patient from snoring.
Patients often prefer an OAT to CPAP because it is:
- Compact and Portable
- Comfortable
- Non-Invasive
- Easy to Maintain/Clean
- Effective at Snoring Cessation
- Effective at Opening the Airway
Other Treatment Options
CPAP is the gold standard for treating OSA, but many people dislike wearing a CPAP. Some patients are CPAP intolerant and cannot wear the device overnight. Some severe OSA cases require surgical intervention.
Schedule a Consultation with Your Naperville, IL, Dentist
If you or a loved one snore and you’re concerned that OSA may be the cause, schedule an appointment with one of our talented and compassionate dentists in Naperville, IL: Dr. Thomas L. Brown, Dr. Marie A. Huguelet, Dr. Cody J. Lindley, or Dr. Anna Pieta. Call 630-369-3120 or schedule your appointment online.