Sleep Apnea Treatment Aurora

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can be defined as breathing that stops and starts during sleep. These interruptions can last 10 seconds or more and occur up to 30 times an hour. This lowers your oxygen levels, prevents your body from entering the deeper stages of sleep that are crucial for good health, and repeatedly elevates your blood pressure. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type and occurs when the airway becomes blocked by your tongue, adenoids, or tonsils while you sleep.

Signs You May Have Sleep Apnea

Here are some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea to watch for:

• Feeling tired, even after 8-9 hours of sleep
• Trouble focusing or memory loss
• Regularly waking up with a sore throat or hoarse voice
• Loud snoring
• Gasping for breath while sleeping
• Waking up repeatedly throughout the night
• Mood swings or changes in behavior

Let us know if you notice any of these warning signs. As a dentist in Aurora, we want to make sure we identify and treat the correct condition, so we’ll refer you for a sleep study to provide a diagnosis and rule out other potential problems. Once we determine that you have sleep apnea, we can provide effective treatment.

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Our team takes sleep apnea seriously because we understand the impact that it can have on our patients’ overall health. Studies have connected the lack of oxygen flow during sleep and obstruction of the airway to a number of medical conditions. Some of these conditions include:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Chronic fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Depression

If you already have any of these medical conditions, it’s likely that untreated sleep apnea will only make them worse, leading to additional complications and impacts on your daily life. Our team strives to spot the symptoms as early as possible to make sure that you receive timely testing and attention from a trained professional.

Oral Appliance Treatment for Sleep Apnea

CPAP machines have been a common sleep apnea treatment for decades, but many people find them so uncomfortable that they quit using them. Others travel a lot and can’t transport their CPAP. For anyone who can’t use a CPAP, oral appliance therapy is a fantastic option.

These custom-made oral appliances are lightweight and portable and work by gently moving the jaw forward and repositioning the tongue. This keeps the airway clear to allow patients to breathe and sleep soundly through the night. In addition to being comfortable, oral appliances are very effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea and can even be used in conjunction with a CPAP machine for more severe cases.

You don’t have to live with the negative consequences of sleep apnea. If you think you could benefit from a better night’s rest, give our team a call today! 

Understanding the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment

Getting the sleep you need shouldn’t depend on how much is in your bank account. That’s why at Mauck & Ricci, DDS we are eager to work with you to customize a sleep apnea treatment plan that is safe, effective, and that fits into your budget. However, because treatment options can vary depending on a variety of factors, it is important that you schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about your options. At that time, we can go over which solutions will work best for you, including the total cost of care. In the meantime, to learn more about how we determine the price of each individualized treatment plan, please keep reading.