Do you snore or have been told that you do?

Have you woken up during sleep?

Have you fallen asleep during the day, particularly when not busy?

Do you have difficulty breathing through your nose?

Have you been told that you stop breathing while asleep?

 

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to consider seeing your health care provider about possible treatment for Snoring and Sleep Apnea.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

 There are three types of Sleep Apnea: Obstructive, Central and Mixed.

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and closes during sleep.
  • Central Sleep Apnea is when the airway is not blocked, but instead the brain fails to signal the muscles to breath.
  • Mixed Sleep Apnea is a combination of the Obstructive and Central Sleep Apnea.

People who suffer from Sleep Apnea routinely wake up throughout the night in order to resume breathing causing their sleep to be extremely fragmented and of poor quality.

 Who is Affected by Sleep Apnea?

Sleep Apnea affects more than 12 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.

According to the Alegent Health Sleep Disorders Center, risk factors include:

  • Men typically over the age of 40.
  • Certain shapes of the palate and jaw
  • Large tonsils and adenoids in children
  • Large neck or collar size
  • Obesity
  • Large tongue
  • Narrow airway
  • Nasal Obstruction
  • Drinking alcohol or using sedatives before bed

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

According to the Alegent Health Sleep Disorders Center, there are many symptoms to look for when dealing with Sleep Apnea:

  • Abnormal daytime sleepiness
  • Awakening unrefreshed in the morning
  • Possible depression
  • Episodes of no breathing
  • Lethargy
  • Loud Snoring
  • Memory Difficulties
  • Morning headaches
  • Personality changes
  • Poor concentration
  • Restless sleep
  • Hyperactive behavior (esp. in children)
  • Leg swelling (if severe)

 Treatment

There are multiple treatments to help correct Sleep Apnea issues. Dental devices are just one of a few that can help maintain an open airway and move the jaw forward to prevent closure of the throat. Dr. Mark Panneton uses the IST Snoring Appliance, a new state-of-the-art device that is proven to improve sleeping and breathing issues.

Dr. Mark Panneton and his staff can assist you with your Sleep Apnea treatment with a IST Snoring Appliance. In order to see if you are eligible for this device you must first do the following:

  • Visit your health care provider for an evaluation of your sleep and breathing issues. If you need assistance in finding a provider that specializes in sleep disorders,  please give us a call and we would be happy to help you.
  • Discuss possible treatments with your provider to decide what is the best process is for you.

If a dental device is an option, please call and make an appointment for a consultation to discuss with Dr. Mark Panneton the process of developing a customized IST Snoring Appliance for you. 

 

Call us today at 402-537-4620 to make your appointment!