Sleep apnea is a chronic health problem, that, unfortunately, can be difficult for some patients to spot. This condition has a number of unwanted and inconvenient symptoms, and it can put you at risk of developing additional health problems down the road.
Our Orland Park sleep apnea dentists use the latest, patient-friendly technologies to treat sleep apnea effectively. Keep reading to learn more!
Sleep apnea occurs when a patient’s oral tissues fall into his or her airway during sleep. These relaxed oral tissues make it difficult for the patient to inhale enough air and oxygen. Consequently, the patient’s blood oxygen levels drop, and the body must momentarily wake itself up in order to restart the breathing process.
So, as you would imagine, many sleep apnea sufferers deal with fatigue and memory/concentration problems during the day. They may also experience chronic headaches, especially in the morning upon waking. Another hallmark of obstructive sleep apnea is loud and disruptive snoring; this sound occurs because the patient is attempting to force air through his or her obstructed breathing passage.
Studies show that long-term, untreated sleep apnea can increase a patient’s risk of suffering from diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. That is why it’s so important to seek timely treatment for this condition.
The traditional treatment option for sleep apnea is the CPAP machine. This device forces oxygen through a patient’s airway via a face mask that the patient wears at night. Unfortunately, many people find CPAP machines to be uncomfortable and difficult to tolerate. That is why our Tinley Park sleep apnea dentists treat sleep apnea with comfortable, unobtrusive oral appliances. We have found that these effective mouth pieces have much higher patient compliance rates than standard CPAP machines.
Don’t let sleep apnea persist untreated; help is available. Please call our dental team to learn more and to schedule your personal consultation!