Sleep Apnea Treatment in Santa Ana, CA

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause a person to stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep. It can also cause loud snoring. Sleep apnea can happen to anyone, but it is more common in people who are overweight, have large tonsils, or have a family history of the condition. People with sleep apnea often do not know they have it. The most common symptom of sleep apnea is loud snoring.

Other symptoms include:

– Waking up feeling short of breath
– Waking up with a headache
– Feeling tired during the day
– Having trouble concentrating
– Feeling irritable
– Restlessness during sleep
– Sudden awakenings with the feelings of gasping or choking for air
– Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking up
– Night sweats
– Sexual dysfunction
– Headaches

If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor to find out if you have sleep apnea.

Depending on the evaluation that your dentist provides as well as the signs and symptoms you are exhibiting, you may either be referred to a sleep disorder center. At a sleep disorder center, they will have a specialist available to help determine if you need further evaluation.
 
While that is the most severe case, there are home sleep testing options available.

If diagnosed with sleep apnea, our dentists may be able to provide some treatment options to help, which include:
 
Oral appliance therapy
If a patient has mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, a dental appliance or oral mandibular advancement device will be recommended to prevent the tongue from blocking the throat and/or pushing the lower jaw forward. These devices help to keep the airways open while you sleep. A sleep specialist and dentist with expertise in oral appliances will be recommended for this purpose should this treatment be the best option for you.
 
Lifestyle changes
Other treatment options may include lifestyle changes including quitting smoking or losing weight. If these changes do not improve the signs and symptoms of your apnea, there are other treatments available including surgery.
 
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine
This will deliver air pressure through a mask while you sleep. The air pressure is greater than that of the surrounding air and is just enough to keep the upper airway passages open, and will help to prevent apnea and snoring.

The main cause of sleep apnea is unknown, although there are several risk factors that are associated with the condition. These include being overweight, having a large neck circumference, smoking, and having a family history of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax and block the airway. This can cause breathing to stop or become shallow, and it can also lead to snoring. Sleep apnea can be a serious condition, so it is important to see a doctor if you think you may have it.

When it comes to sleep apnea, there are a few warning signs that may be showcased to warn you that you have sleep apnea and that you need to be aware of including:
 
– Excessive daytime sleepiness
– Loud snoring
– Others have observed episodes of breathing being stopped during sleep
– Abrupt awakenings that are accompanied by choking or gasping for air
– Awakening with a sore throat or dry mouth
– Morning headaches
– Issues concentrating during the day
– Mood changes which include irritability, and depression
– High blood pressure
– Decreased libido
 
It is best to speak to your dentist about your sleep apnea symptoms and issues that you may have noticed or your partner has observed, because depending on the level of symptoms, you may need treatment to help, or need to speak to a specialist immediately if it is quite severe.
 
Contact Bay Dental for all of your dental appliance, treatment, and service needs! We are located at 3620 S Bristol St Suite 307, Santa Ana, CA 92704. We serve patients from Santa Ana CA, Orange CA, Anaheim CA, Irvine CA, Garden Grove CA, Westminster CA, Lakewood CA, Costa Mesa CA, South Coast metro and surrounding areas.