What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that causes your breathing to repeatedly stop due to an airway obstruction. These lapses of breathing occur during sleep and can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Patients suffering from sleep apnea typically snore loudly or make choking and gasping sounds while sleeping.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Look out for the following symptoms if you suspect you or a loved one may be suffering from sleep apnea:
- Loud snoring
- Abnormal daytime sleepiness
- Choking or gasping for air during sleep
- Morning headaches
- Daytime fatigue
- Restless sleep
- Memory difficulties
- Poor concentration
- Hyperactive behavior
- Lethargy
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, we encourage you to seek treatment as soon as possible. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to future health complications such as heart attack, diabetes, and more. Schedule a consultation at Panneton Dental Group, and one of our knowledgeable team members will be happy to assist you.
What to Expect
As dental providers, we’re able to work closely with your physician to provide the best treatment possible. We’ll create a customized plan that improves your sleep and your overall well-being. By choosing sleep apnea treatment at Panneton Dental Group, you’ll receive the following benefits supported by our sleep apnea certification:
- A screening appointment provided by Panneton Dental Group or your physician
- An at-home sleep test provided by our practice
- A referral to the appropriate provider based on your test results
- Secure and strong communication to ensure you get the care you need
Benefits
At Panneton Dental Group, our providers are dedicated to delivering unparalleled care for sleep apnea, ensuring a host of benefits that go beyond restful nights:
Customized Treatment Plans: We’ll craft your personalized plans in collaboration with physicians to ensure targeted solutions for your unique sleep disorder, promoting effective and targeted solutions.
- Comprehensive Screening Process: Our certified team ensures a comprehensive evaluation to accurately diagnose sleep apnea and guide the formulation of an appropriate treatment plan.
- Convenient At-Home Sleep Test: This convenient option allows for a detailed analysis of your sleep patterns in the comfort of your own space, contributing to a more accurate diagnosis.
- Referral to Qualified Physicians: Our certified providers will refer you to qualified physicians based on your test results. This ensures a holistic approach to sleep health and effective multidisciplinary care.
- Secure and Open Communication: Our certified team prioritizes effective communication channels to ensure you receive the care you need promptly and comprehensively.
- Expertise in Sleep Medicine: Our providers bring extensive training in sleep medicine and oral appliance therapy, ensuring cutting-edge solutions.
- Objective Data Utilization: Our evidence-based care incorporates objective data to assess the effectiveness of oral appliance therapy, optimizing treatment outcomes.
- Timely and Appropriate Follow-Up Care: With dedicated follow-up care, we’ll manage dental-related side effects promptly. Our certified team is dedicated to your long-term well-being, ensuring that your treatment remains effective and comfortable.
Choose Panneton Dental Group for transformative sleep apnea care. Call our office at (402) 934-5200 to embark on your journey towards better sleep and improved overall health.
Our Treatment Solutions
At Panneton Dental Group, our dentists offer two options for sleep apnea treatment.
Oral Appliance Therapy
With oral appliance therapy (OAT), we’re able to provide patients with a custom dental appliance that’s portable, discreet, and comfortable. These small oral devices work by gently shifting your jaw forward to keep your tongue from collapsing and your airway unobstructed. Oral appliance therapy can eliminate snoring and sleep apnea symptoms without sacrificing your comfort.
Surgery
We may recommend surgery for more severe cases of sleep apnea. Common surgeries to treat sleep apnea include nasal airway surgery, palate and pharyngeal surgery, and tongue reduction surgery. We only consider surgery if your condition is severe and other treatment options haven’t proved to be effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health consequences such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It’s crucial to seek treatment to help alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms immediately after being diagnosed with sleep apnea.
DreamSleep dentists work closely with your physician to determine your sleep disorder and customize your treatment plan. They’ll find the treatment that works best for you so you can get the sleep you deserve.
While snoring is a common sleep apnea symptom, not everyone who snores suffers from sleep apnea. Several factors can cause snoring, including:
- Genetics
- Excessive weight
- Allergies
- Sleep position
- Nasal congestion
With DreamSleep, your dentist can determine whether you have sleep apnea or snoring problems.
Sleep apnea can’t be cured. However, there are treatments and lifestyle changes to help reduce sleep apnea symptoms and tackle sleep apnea. DreamSleep dentists offer treatments like oral appliance therapy and, if severe, surgery. When you come into their office, they’ll have you undergo a sleep study to get an accurate diagnosis and determine the best treatment for your needs.
A natural approach to help manage your symptoms may include losing weight, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and sedatives (especially before going to sleep), and positional therapy.