Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
A good night’s sleep is essential for good health.
Sleep apnea occurs when the airway repeatedly becomes blocked, preventing breathing. You wake up briefly, gasp for air, and fall back asleep. You rarely remember these experiences in the morning.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of this condition. It happens when the soft tissue in the back of your throat collapses, blocking air passage and starving your brain and heart of oxygen. The resulting increase in blood pressure and heart rate can result in an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression. OSA can seriously impact your life, so it’s best to seek treatment as soon as possible.
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How We Treat Sleep Apnea at Laurel Manor SleepCare
Getting Started With Sleep Apnea Treatment
How We Improve Your Quality of Sleep—and Life
The first step is a sleep consultation at our practice. We ask you a series of questions to determine whether you should be referred to a sleep physician or asked to complete an at-home sleep test. Laurel Manor SleepCare works in conjunction with experienced sleep doctors, so if you have already received a diagnosis, we request records from your doctor in order to devise your best treatment plan.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Overview
We Tailor Your Treatment to Your Unique Needs
While severe cases of sleep apnea may require a CPAP machine, many mild to moderate cases can be treated fairly easily with oral devices. Our practice uses FDA- and Medicare-approved oral appliances that are custom fit for effectiveness and comfort. They work by moving your jaw forward to clear your airway while you sleep so that oxygen deprivation doesn’t wake you up.
We treat OSA according to the needs of each patient and work closely with you to determine your optimal treatment.
Bruxism and TMD
Conditions Related to Sleep Apnea
Many patients who suffer from sleep apnea also present with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) or bruxism (teeth grinding) symptoms. Some patients actually see improvement in their TMD or bruxism symptoms, while others do not. We adjust the oral appliance to obtain an optimal position to manage your sleep apnea and any related symptoms, but separate treatments are also available for these conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Sleep Apnea Questions Answered
A: We do not start any treatment until we have completed an initial sleep study and your doctor has reviewed your results. You may be referred for a CPAP evaluation based on your discussions with your doctor, or you may be identified as a good candidate for oral appliance therapy.
A: Not all oral appliances are the same. The only type of mouth guard that should be worn to treat sleep apnea is one that is made and delivered by a dentist. So especially in cases of OSA, oral sleep appliances are best suited for the job.
