How can your dentist help you get a better night's sleep?

If you snore heavily, or if you have a CPAP device that you are uncomfortable using, please ask us about some of the treatment options we can offer you.
If you snore heavily, or if you frequently find yourself sleepy during the day, you should be evaluated for Sleep Apnea.

Have you been sleeping well lately? If not, you have plenty of company. With the COVID-19 pandemic upending our lives in so many ways, stress is at an all time high. Patients are reporting higher levels of anxiety, and more difficulty sleeping, then ever before.

But it is important to understand that some sleep problems are medical in nature and, properly diagnosed, can respond well to therapy.

Sleep Apnea

People suffering from sleep apnea have short pauses in breathing while they are asleep. These pauses may happen many times during the night, and patients are often completely unaware this is happening. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to numerous problems, such as headaches, high blood pressure, stroke, and memory loss. Feeling sleepy during the day and being told you are snoring loudly at night could also be signs that you have sleep apnea.

Yes, you can have sleep apnea and not even know it.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, your physician can prescribe a sleep test (often done at home) which can pinpoint the severity and the cause of the problem. Treatment using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device helps many people with sleep apnea.

For those uncomfortable using a CPAP device or unable to sleep with it, there are several types of oral appliances that can significantly reduce episodes of snoring and apnea.