Get a Good Night’s Sleep
We take sleep seriously. As a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, Dr. Rollings works with sleep physicians to provide oral appliance therapy for sleep-related disorders.
Approximately 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems. Sleep is as crucial as diet and exercise to maintain good health and longevity. Snoring and sleep apnea can interfere with your sleep and leave you exhausted and at risk for other serious health issues. We provide diagnosis and treatment to help you alleviate symptoms and get a good night’s sleep.
Snoring
Snoring happens when air is unable to move freely through your airway, resulting in difficulty breathing and the familiar snoring sound. It can be caused by a number of factors such as an obstructed airway, being overweight, sleeping position, or age. Left untreated, snoring can have a major impact on the quality of your sleep.
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Sleep apnea is caused when the muscles at the back of your throat relax while you’re sleeping. This causes your airway to become narrow so you’re unable to draw a breath. When this happens, you wake up and start breathing again, and then fall back asleep. Sufferers can go through the waking cycle 5 to 30 times per hour, resulting in interrupted sleep. Quite often, the sufferer has no memory of waking up several times a night.
Individuals left with untreated sleep apnea are four times as likely to have a stroke and are three times as likely to have heart disease as those without sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea affects the old, the young, the overweight, and the thin. If it isn’t treated, sleep apnea can have a major impact on your health and quality of life.
How Is Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treated?
Dental treatment for snoring depends on the cause. If your physician believes that your snoring is not a symptom of a more serious sleep-disordered breathing problem, a custom oral appliance can be used to quiet your snoring and improve the sleep of you and your bed partner! Many couples are able to return to the same bedroom by eliminating the snoring. A laboratory-made appliance holds the jaw and tongue forward to prevent the throat from collapsing during sleep.
Treatment for sleep apnea in our office The usual treatment for diagnosed sleep apnea is a CPAP device prescribed by your physician that you wear while you sleep. The device helps keep your airway open so you can breathe. Symptoms can also be reduced by making healthy lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, reducing stress, or losing weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is oral appliance therapy for snoring?
Oral appliance therapy treats snoring by holding open your airway while you sleep. The appliance resembles an orthodontic appliance, and is designed to fit over your teeth.
Do I need to go to my doctor before seeing a dentist for snoring or apnea treatment?
Yes. Snoring and sleep apnea are medical conditions and you must see your family doctor for diagnosis before seeing a dentist for treatment. Your dentist will work with your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
Is snoring and sleep apnea dangerous to my health?
Yes. Untreated snoring or sleep apnea can lead to complications such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, worsening depression or ADHD, and diabetes. If you suspect you are snoring or suffering from sleep apnea see your family physician for diagnosis.