A Sleep Apnea Wake-Up Call | Lexington, KY

Once entrusted to our care, you will quickly see that we do a lot more around here than just clean and polish teeth. In fact, today we want to talk about something scary that we treat all the time at our Lexington, KY dentist’s office. It might make you and your loved ones lose sleep, or at least you’ll all feel like you did the next day. We are referring to sleep apnea, a very serious condition that adversely impacts the lives of millions of Americans each year.
Knowing The Signs Is Important
How will you know that you are dealing with sleep apnea issues? Here are some clues: you are repeatedly told that you snore like a buzz saw; you are perpetually wiped out and can’t ever seem to get enough sleep; you wake up in the middle of the night gasping for breath; you wake up with a bad headache; you wake up with a sore or dry throat; you are irritable at work and at play.
If that sounds like you, it is essential that you seek a diagnosis and, of course, treatment for sleep apnea ASAP.
If left undiagnosed or untreated, this condition can trigger a stroke, bring about heart disease, and cause you to exhibit reckless behavior. The latter is as the result of deep-sleep deprivation more than anything.
Sleep Apnea Is Serious
Here’s the breakdown: Central Sleep Apnea Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Disorder are the two main ways in which the condition manifests itself.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the one we see the most of. It happens when your throat muscles relax to the point that they obstruct your airways. This leads to extended breaks in night-time breathing and typically forces you to suddenly wake up struggling for air.
Because your brain is busy all night keeping you alive, when you wake up in the morning, you won’t feel rested at all! This is not a sustainable model by any means.
But there is some good news: obstructed sleep apnea is something that we are able to treat effectively.
Beaumont Family Dentistry Offers Sleep Apnea Treatment
Over a decade ago, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine added oral appliances as a primary treatment option for patients with mild or moderate sleep apnea. This was good news for many patients who have difficulty using a sleep apnea breathing machine (CPAP).
Our leader, Dr. Takacs, is well-versed in treating sleep apnea using dental devices. She completed a residency in sleep medicine at Tufts University, and she is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
All that is to say that you will be in good hands with us. If you aren’t certain what is going on with you, we can help you arrange a sleep test to determine if you have sleep apnea or not. When sleep apnea is confirmed, we can design a custom-made oral appliance just for you.
How does it work? This appliance fixes the problem at hand by shifting your jaw forward ever-so-slightly. This will you allow you to continue to breathe normally throughout the night, and reduce your snoring, so you can get the deep sleep that you and your partner deserve.
It’s Time To Wake Up!
If you live in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky and you suspect that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, get in touch with Beaumont Family Dentistry right away. We will do everything we can do help you and your loved ones get the healthy sleep that you need to live the best life possible. Contact us now to get started!