Sleep Apnea Therapy – Beachwood, OH
Get the Quality of Rest
That You Deserve
It has been found that 60% of men and 40% of women between the ages of forty and sixty snore. Not everyone who snores is diagnosed with sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when an obstruction blocks the airway and causes tissue in your airway to vibrate. On the other hand, sleep apnea occurs when your airway is completely obstructed for a period of time causing lapses in breathing and your body to react as if it is in a fight or flight response. Sleep apnea can cause serious health risks that may be deadly such as irregular heartbeat, hypertension, heart attack, diabetes, and stroke. Visit our dental office to learn more about your options for sleep apnea therapy in Beachwood, OH.
Why Choose Orange Place Family Dentistry for Sleep Apnea Therapy?
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Putty-Free
Digital Impressions -
Customized
Snore Guards -
Experienced
Sleep Dentist
Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Some of the signs and symptoms you or a loved one may have sleep apnea may include difficulty concentrating throughout the day. Sleep apnea and snoring also cause problems and conditions for those people who may be bed partners of someone who snores throughout the night such as:
- Fatigue and daytime sleepiness
- Depression
- Weight Gain
- Loss of Libido
- Memory Impairment
- Fibromyalgia
How Dentists Help with
Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is currently defined as a medical condition, but trained dentists also screen for the disease. Dr. Koops or Dr. Mollica may suggest an overnight sleep test, which is done at home and easy to complete. The data is then sent to a certified sleep physician who analyzes the data and suggests a treatment modality. Mild to moderate sleep apnea is treated with an oral appliance made by Dr. Koops or Dr. Mollica, and severe sleep apnea is treated with a CPAP machine.
As sleep dentists, Dr. Koops and Dr. Mollica have been trained to treat mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea. In 1995, the American Sleep Association (ASA) accepted oral appliance therapy as another treatment option for those people suffering from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
The oral appliance will work to keep your air passages open throughout the night. By keeping your airway open, it will prevent it from becoming obstructed, eliminate snoring, and give you the restful sleep you require to be healthy.
Many people who are dissatisfied with their current CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine treatment and become non-compliant may be good candidates for the more comfortable and unobtrusive oral appliances.
Sleep Apnea
& Dental Insurance
Because sleep apnea is a medical condition, it is often covered under your medical insurance, not dental insurance. Our staff will assist you in filing for a predetermination with your medical insurance.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Why Should I See a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
While having your dentist treat sleep apnea may seem strange at first, oral health professionals are experts in the upper respiratory area. Obstructive sleep apnea is typically the result of the tissues in the mouth and neck weighing heavily on the windpipe when they relax during sleep, and the dentists at Orange Place Family Dentistry can reposition the lower jaw in a way that keeps the airway open during sleep. If you see us for routine exams and cleanings, we’ll be happy to discuss your sleep apnea symptoms during these appointments.
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?
About twenty million people in the United States have sleep apnea, which means that the condition affects twenty percent of the adult population. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, and not everyone who has sleep apnea snores. The only way to know for sure if you have this condition is to have your sleep doctor conduct a sleep study or test.
Can I Diagnose Sleep Apnea on My Own?
While many electronic devices may claim to be able to help detect sleep apnea, these tools are not precise or reliable enough to provide a proper diagnosis. Having symptoms of sleep apnea does not necessarily mean that you have the condition, so your sleep doctor must perform a sleep test to diagnose you before we begin any treatment.
Can My Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
Only a qualified sleep doctor can diagnose sleep apnea. However, we’ll be happy to perform a screening to determine if you should undergo a sleep test and provide treatments to address your sleep apnea if you receive that diagnosis. We can address mild and moderate cases of sleep apnea with an oral appliance that holds your jaw in a slightly open position and severe cases with CPAP machines that use pressurized air to keep your airway clear.
Will My Sleep Apnea Go Away if I Lose Weight?
Being overweight is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea, and excessive tissue can make it easier for your windpipe to become constricted during slumber. In some cases, losing weight can significantly reduce or eliminate a patient’s sleep apnea symptoms. However, it is still possible to have sleep apnea even if you are not overweight, so it’s best to have another sleep test to determine if you still have the condition after slimming down.
Are There At-Home Remedies for Sleep Apnea?
While products like essential oils and weighted blankets may make it easier to relax, oral appliance or CPAP therapy may be the best way to ensure you can consistently enjoy quality sleep. Oral appliance therapy will help your airway stay open while the tissues around your throat relax, but you can also encourage your body to sleep by limiting your caffeine consumption, staying physically active throughout the day, and refraining from looking at your phone during the hours before bed.