Sleep Apnea Treatment – Everett, MA
Stop Snoring and Sleep Well
Dr. Kaopua cares about protecting more than just your smile; he wants to make sure your whole body stays healthy. One key way to do that is to make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep every night. Many Americans – as many as 22 million – suffer from a disorder called sleep apnea which can lead to loud snoring and frequent awakenings throughout the night, causing you (and your bedmate) to feel exhausted come morning. If you schedule an appointment at Albright Family Dental, we can help determine whether or not you have sleep apnea and help you find a way to stop it so that you can get quiet, restful sleep again.
Why Choose Albright Family Dental for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- An Experienced and Knowledgeable Dentist
- Comfortable, Personalized Sleep Appliances
- A Warm, Welcoming Office Environment
What is Sleep Apnea?
Has your partner reported frequent pauses in your breathing while you’re asleep? Those pauses are a sign of sleep apnea. The condition normally occurs when the airway is partially or completely blocked, which stops the flow of oxygen. Once the brain receives the signal that breathing has stopped, it forces you awake in order to reopen the airway. This allows breathing to resume, but it also means you get pulled out of the sleep cycle on a regular basis, and that can leave you feeling thoroughly unrested come morning.
Who is At Risk for Sleep Apnea?
Virtually anyone at any age can suffer from sleep apnea, but certain groups are at a higher risk than others. People over the age of 40, for example, are more likely to experience the disorder, with men being at a particularly high risk. Gaining weight and increasing the thickness of your neck can also make it more likely that airflow will be disrupted at night. Poor quality sleep is also associated with a number of bad habits like using electronic screens before bed and eating late.
Detecting Sleep Apnea
There are a number of symptoms that you and your partner can observe that might point to sleep apnea. Snoring and pauses in breathing are among the most well-known and easy-to-spot symptoms, but you might also suffer from morning headaches, regular awakenings with a dry mouth, difficulty concentrating during the day, and a general feeling of exhaustion. When you visit our office, we can use a visual examination and advanced technology to check to see if your anatomy puts you at risk for sleep apnea, and we can provide sleep monitoring devices to confirm whether or not a sleep disorder is present.
Treating Sleep Apnea
Instead of using a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea, you can use one of our oral sleep appliances to relieve your symptoms. While a CPAP machine forces air directly into the throat, an oral appliance will just hold the jaw in a position that allows you to breathe comfortably throughout the night. Certain appliances may also be designed to stop the tongue from collapsing back onto the throat.