man lying in bed, frustrated that he can't sleep

Sleep Apnea

Item: Sandcreek Dental
Rating: 5

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that can lead to serious health issues if left untreated.

At Sandcreek Dental in Idaho Falls, ID, Dr. Mark Tall can provide a custom-fitted mouthguard to help you sleep soundly through the night.

Learn how our team helps patients in Ammon, Blackfoot, Rexburg, and Shelley, ID, improve their mood and health with sleep apnea treatment...

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition that is characterized by repeated breathing interruptions that disrupt your sleep. Sleep apnea increases your risk of developing a number of potentially dangerous health issues, such as high blood pressure. There are two forms of this sleep disorder:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles at the back of the throat relax and block your airway. Obstructive sleep apnea causes the oxygen level in your blood to drop, alerting your brain to briefly wake you. Characterized by a loud snort or choking sound, obstructive sleep apnea causes you to transition from deep sleep into light sleep. Normal breathing resumes for a time, but as the muscles relax again, the cycle continues. Most patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea do not notice or remember the brief awakenings, even though they can happen 30 or more times in an hour.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea is much less common than obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the proper signals needed to maintain breathing during sleep. A far more complex disorder, central sleep apnea cannot be treated at our Idaho Falls dental practice. If you suffer from central sleep apnea, you will need to seek the assistance of a specialist.

Diagnosis for Sleep Apnea

Some patients with sleep apnea may not realize they are affected by this disorder because it only happens when they are sleeping. Often, it is a family member or partner that first notices the loud snoring that is the telltale sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be diagnosed by your primary care doctor or a sleep specialist.

If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with Dr. Tall at Sandcreek Dental. He can examine your airways and determine if a custom-fitted mouthguard could be the solution you need to stop snoring and start sleeping soundly through the night.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, passive oral appliances and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are the most common treatment methods. For cases that do not respond to these treatments, surgery may be recommended.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

CPAP machines deliver pressurized air through a mask placed over your nose during sleep. While effective, CPAP is noisy and cumbersome. Due to the complicated and uncomfortable device, many patients have a difficult time adhering to CPAP treatment.

Oral Appliances

Oral appliances work by moving your jaw forward to keep the upper airway from collapsing. Both effective and user-friendly, oral devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea must be prescribed by a physician and can be fitted by our Idaho Falls dentist. Oral appliance therapy is more comfortable and easier to use than CPAP, so you'll have a better chance of enjoying a full night's rest.

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Sleep Apnea Risk Factors

Anyone can be affected by sleep apnea, but there are several known factors that increase your risk for developing the condition. Some of the most common risk factors include: