Sleep apnea is a breathing condition that affects millions of Americans, and countless others around the world. Sleep apnea is commonly caused by either a blockage of the top airway (obstructive) or a failure to signal the muscles to breathe (central) during sleep.
This condition is more than just uncomfortable; these concerns can impact one’s overall physical and mental well-being. At Fairchance Dental Arts, you can get the help you need to get good sleep again. Call our office today to learn more about our sleep apnea options!
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. As the name suggests, it results from an obstruction in the airways, which could be due to factors like a relaxed palate, tongue movement, or jaw positioning during sleep.
During the day, breathing seems smooth and automatic. Our air passages stay open and strong, due to our consciousness and upright posture. At night, all this changes. The moment we lie down, gravity takes over, everything relaxes, and our breathing in general becomes deeper.
Passages that are too relaxed will collapse in on themselves, effectively cutting off all breathing. The lungs will do their best to get air, but sometimes they can’t do it alone. The brain, not having any other choice, will wake up the sleeper, who immediately starts breathing again. Usually, it’s so quick that no one remembers waking up at all.
Recognizing Signs of Sleep Apnea
If these symptoms resonate with you, you might be among the many grappling with undiagnosed sleep apnea. Drs. Megan and Caleb will facilitate each step of the treatment process and will offer oral appliances to help address your concerns.
If you are unsure whether the specific condition you are facing is sleep apnea, feel free to reach out to Fairchance Dental Arts. Our team is happy to walk you through your symptoms and offers a wide variety of oral care solutions depending on which would fit your needs the most.
Dry Mouth
If you have sleep apnea, your body has to compensate for a lack of oxygen unconsciously. Waking up with a dry mouth is one of those means of compensation. Those with obstructive sleep apnea often have louder snoring because they breathe heavier, causing more intense vibrations in the mouth and throat, leading to a dry mouth.
A dry mouth can be problematic over time for patients, leading to weakened gums and tooth decay if left untreated. A dry mouth can also cause bad breath as your saliva works to help filtrate the bacteria that lives in your mouth.
Consistent Headaches
One distinct side effect of sleep apnea is low oxygen. Without deep, uninhibited breathing, the blood isn’t able to get sufficient levels of oxygen to the body systems that need it. This, in turn, can lead to increased blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.
Your body will spark headaches in a way to fight back against the lack of oxygen. In addition to this, sleep apnea can lead to signs of extreme exhaustion. Extreme exhaustion is a common sign of headaches and also lowers the body’s immune response because it doesn’t have the energy to fight off developing illnesses.
Intense Snoring
For most snorers, there isn’t much of a medical concern. Snoring can be caused by a tonsil infection or a swollen tongue. “Chronic snoring” is also possible if you have a crooked partition between the nostrils.
However, sometimes snoring is a sign of a bigger issue. One of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea is snoring. Snoring occurs when your breath vibrates these oral tissues and creates sound. If your snoring indicates sleep apnea, it can lead to more serious medical concerns than simply keeping other people awake.
Decreased Sleep Quality
Obstructive sleep apnea restricts airflow and prevents deep, restorative sleep. Natural body responses to perceived disturbances can manifest as chronic snoring, frequent restroom visits, or constant tossing and turning.
Your body depends on the quality of sleep during the night to perform and function appropriately. A weakened sleep can influence your ability to focus and be as productive as you would like to be throughout the day. Sleep apnea appliances help patients be able to start the day off right, improving our patient’s general well-being and viewpoint on their day.
Mood Disorders
A good night’s sleep is central to maintaining emotional regulation. Without the energy to emotionally regulate their sleep, many patients find themselves more susceptible to mental concerns.
Sleep disturbances can lead to mood fluctuations, depression, and anxiety. Mental concerns can also gradually cause memory problems, weight gain, and other serious health complications. The cognitive uneasiness can put a major strain on your quality of life.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Health
There is an intricate link between oral health, sleep apnea, and whole-body health. Fairchance Dental Arts is here to guide our patients toward comprehensive wellness.
Sleep apnea can ultimately lead to significant health concerns if left untreated. Here are a few reasons why it’s crucial to address this condition as soon as you notice the signs. Feel free to give our office a call if you have any questions about sleep apnea treatment!
- Cardiovascular Problems: The frequent wake-sleep cycles can increase heart rate and blood pressure, placing strain on the cardiovascular system. This could heighten the risk of heart disease, artery issues, and medical strokes.
- Type 2 Diabetes: People with sleep apnea are more likely to develop resistance to their internal insulin, which can ultimately lead to Type 2 Diabetes. Decrease the probability of metabolic disorders with the help of sleep apnea treatment.
- Liver Problems: Those with sleep apnea may show signs of scarring, also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, on their liver due to uncompromised strain. Addressing your liver can help your body’s ability to fight infections and digest food properly.
- Compromised Immune System: Chronic sleep deprivation can reduce the body’s ability to fend off infections, through your oral health or otherwise. These complications can make patients sick more often and for a longer time.
Why Choose Fairchance Dental Arts for Your Treatment?
Drs. Megan and Caleb are a reliable community partner to trust for a comprehensive approach to general and cosmetic dentistry. Community members in Fairchance, PA, have relied on the help of our dental team with the help of these benefits.
Advanced Experience and Technology
Turn to the sleep apnea experts at Fairchance Dental Arts for needed relief. We have over 10 combined years of experience studying and treating sleep-related breathing disorders in adults and children.
This comfortable environment is enhanced with the help of exceptional dental technology. Our scanners can help our patients visualize their current smile and see the results before the procedure takes place. Our office values wholeheartedly listening and tuning to our patient’s needs, and our technology allows both sides of our care to feel like we are on the same page.
Care for the Whole Family
Many patients don’t realize that children can also be diagnosed with sleep apnea. Fairchance Dental Arts doesn’t just accept but embraces taking care of our younger patients. Our younger patients love the calm and supportive atmosphere our office provides.
Drs. Megan and Caleb Beam also support a family of their own in the Fairchance area, which helps them better empathize with patients under similar circumstances.
Rural Environment
Fairchance Dental Care is based in Fayette County, which is a more rural area in the state. Our office helps to supply our small town with a full, comprehensive dental catalog to help patients receive the care that they need without having to drive long distances.
Addressing sleep apnea and other oral health concerns is even more convenient with our specialized location and local staff. We love being able to help individuals in the Fairchance community and are excited for you to join our dental family!
I was very glad that I went to Fairchance Dental. They took me in right away. The staff was more than friendly. They listened to me. They took their time with me. I made an appointment not only for me but also for my husband. I was very glad I went. Dr. Caleb was very nice. Everyone was very nice.
– Paulette B.
Comprehensive Oral Healthcare
With our array of services, including airway dentistry, we aim to not only gift you a radiant smile but also provide patient-focused oral health. If your condition isn’t technically qualified as sleep apnea, we offer a wide variety of other solutions to address your concerns.
Find Sleep Apnea Mouthguards in Fairchance, PA
Utilizing state-of-the-art dental technology, we design custom oral appliances to ensure your airways remain open while you sleep. These devices, also known as mouthguards, are sleek, efficient, low-maintenance, and portable.
Oral appliances, custom-made to fit the patient, take inspiration from the designs of a mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer. Their primary function is to stabilize the tongue or adjust the jaw’s position, ensuring that the airway remains open and unobstructed during sleep.
Here are a few of the benefits our patients love from sleep apnea treatment.
- Personalized Comfort: The majority of our patients appreciate the comfort level oral appliances provide. Without the confines of a mask, users often feel more at ease, leading to a better night’s sleep.
- Travel-Friendly Design: Due to their compact design, oral appliances are a convenient sleep apnea treatment option for those who travel frequently. No need to worry about bulky CPAP machinery or finding a power source.
- User-Focused: Oral appliances operate without electricity, offering a simple, fuss-free approach to managing sleep apnea. This straightforwardness can be particularly appealing to those who may feel overwhelmed by complex equipment.
What About CPAP Machines?
Many patients tend to tie sleep apnea with CPAP machines, which connect to your airways to help you sleep better. At Fairchance Dental Arts, we recognize that each patient’s needs are unique. When it comes to treating sleep apnea, the Beam team often recommends oral appliances as a preferred solution to maximize the patient’s comfort and convenience.
While oral appliances offer many benefits, they might not be the ideal choice for individuals with very severe sleep apnea. Additionally, there might be a brief adjustment period when starting with an oral appliance as you become accustomed to sleeping with it in your mouth.
How Will the Treatment Work?
Choosing the best treatment for sleep apnea depends on individual needs and preferences. At Fairchance Dental Arts, our primary goal is to ensure that you receive care tailored to you. In terms of sleep apnea, here’s what most patients come to expect from treatment at our office.
- Consultation: Drs. Megan and Caleb Beam will first listen and respond to your concerns to see if you are an ideal candidate for sleep apnea care.
- Testing: Sleep apnea will need to be properly diagnosed before treatment takes place. We will instruct you on how testing needs to be done in your situation.
- Oral Appliance: If the dentist and outside testing signifies the need for sleep apnea treatment, we will use an oral appliance shaped to your particular jawline.
- Adjustments: With the help of the oral appliance, we will make slight adjustments to your sleep pattern until the sleep apnea concerns have diminished.
Other Solutions for Sleep Apnea Symptoms
If you or a loved one doesn’t seem to fit the criteria for sleep apnea, there are other ways that we can be able to help address your sleep apnea symptoms. For more information about these forms of care, check out their respective pages above or call our office to set up a visit!
- Orthodontic Care: Crooked or misaligned teeth can easily get in the way of your breathing patterns. Fairchance Dental Arts uses the help of Invisalign clear aligners to help address orthodontic concerns and improve your quality of sleep.
- Airway Development: Improper breathing habits, specifically for younger children, can lead to symptoms similar to sleep apnea. Our dental team is trained in therapy to help address concerns that are blocking you or your child’s breathing patterns.
- Tongue Ties: The band of tissue connecting your tongue to your jaw should loosen as you and your family age. If this doesn’t happen, it creates a condition called tongue ties. Our office is certified to help our patients work around these concerns.
Book Your Sleep Apnea Consultation
Fairchance Dental Arts will always be your home for a beaming smile. Our office is committed to meeting each dental health goal our patients have. To explore our snoring and sleep apnea treatment options, get in touch with our office today. We offer both in-office and virtual consultations to cater to your needs.
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