Thank you!
We will contact you shortly.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Does your significant other complain that your obnoxious snoring is keeping them up at night?Do you feel tired during the day?Do you wake up in the night gasping for air?
These are all signs of sleep apnea. You may be surprised to learn that ninety percent of people who snore loudly actually have sleep apnea. If this condition is left untreated it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and weight gain.
What is sleep apnea?
When you fall asleep, you are in a completely relaxed state. This includes your tongue. The term “apnea” denotes that something is obstructed. This deep relaxation actually causes the tongue to be so relaxed that it obstructs the airway. Then, when the soft tissues vibrate as you breathe, snoring is the result.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is when the airway becomes completely obstructed. This causes an interruption in breathing which disrupts sleep. Oxygen deprivation occurs and often causes you to gasp in order to catch your breath. This serious sleeping disorder interferes with healthy sleep patterns, so it is likely that you may feel fatigued and tired in the morning even though you have been in bed all night. Patients that participate in a sleep study are often surprised to see how many times they wake up in the night. In some cases there are hundreds of sleep interruptions each night.
Sleep apnea treatment
At Sloan & Sloan we use a simple mandibular advancement appliance to help treat your sleep apnea. These dental appliances re-position the lower jaw into a more favorable position that keeps the breathing passageway open during sleep. For mild to moderate sleep apnea, this will usually solve the problem, restore normal breathing, and eliminate the snoring.
FAQ
Do you work with local doctors to perform sleep studies?
Yes! We currently partner with a local pulmonologist for screenings and to facilitate treatment. We have strong relationships with local doctors and can work with yours too!
What's the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?
Snoring is simply a vibration during breathing which can be caused by a number of reasons. However, snoring CAN be a symptom of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when you literally stop breathing during the night.
Who is the ideal patient for dental appliance therapy?
Sloan and Sloan Dentistry offers free consultations to evaluate exactly what your sleep solution needs are. Those who have mild sleep apnea and patients that are CPAP intolerant. Appliance therapy may be your complete treatment or it may be used in conjunction with a CPAP.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
Some signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, moments when you momentarily stop breathing during sleep, gasping for air during the night, dry mouth when you wake up, morning headaches, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, difficulty paying attention while awake and, irritability
What does CPAP intolerant mean?
Put simply, it means you can't get good sleep when using a CPAP. CPAP machines work great if you can wear them but they only work if you do! We help treat the 25-50% of apnea patients that can't make CPAP work for them.
Who's at risk for sleep apnea?
Anyone can have sleep apnea, but it's more prevalent in people who are overweight, men versus women, and older people when comparing age.
Do I need a physician referral?
No! We can screen you for apnea without a referral. However, if you and your physician decide that oral appliance therapy is needed we do need a prescription from your physician prior to treatment. We can also put you in touch with some great physicians who are experienced in treating sleep apnea.
Schedule a Consultation
If you think you may be suffering from this sleep disorder, please request an appointment to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Sloan. During the consultation, he will spend ten minutes with you personally to answer your questions and gain a better understanding of your situation to see if you may be a candidate for a mandibular appliance. Sloan & Sloan Dentistry serves Broadway, Sanford and Harnett County.
Complete the form below and we will be touch shortly.