Sleep Apnea Dentists

Although sleep apnea is common and potentially serious, it is quite possible to treat. However, it’s important for you to understand that sleep apnea requires professional treatment. If it’s left untreated, many patients can develop fatal health problems or even death, and many children can develop behavioral disorders too.

The condition occurs when a person is asleep and their breathing stops and starts back up repeatedly. Many people don’t even know it’s happening to them until a sleep partner points it out, or they finally start recognizing the signs. If you’re snoring loudly and waking up feeling exhausted even after a good night’s sleep, then that could be a sign of sleep apnea. You might also be occasionally waking up because you feel like you’re gasping or choking. Headaches, restless sleep, insomnia, recurrent awakenings, mood changes, and a decreased sex drive are some of the other possible symptoms. Also, there are different kinds of sleep apnea you should know about.

With obstructive sleep apnea, a patient’s throat muscles relax and/or collapse, which blocks airflow. This kind of sleep apnea is the most common one, but central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea syndrome are also possibilities. The former can happen when the patient’s brain isn’t sending the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing, and the latter, complex sleep apnea syndrome, can happen when both central and obstructive sleep apnea occur at the same time.

These professionals can provide dental sleep medicine which uses oral appliance therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. A simple oral appliance is all a patient might need to improve sleep and even quality of life, and this is what our sleep apnea dentists offer here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders.

With the use of the oral appliance, a patient’s jaw, tongue, and airway will rest in a natural position. This is often enough to significantly reduce the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. The oral appliance is an excellent, comfortable alternative to a CPAP machine, and is approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. When you come see one of our sleep apnea dentists here at our clinic, we’ll tell you everything you’d like to know about the appliance and oral appliance therapy.

Yes, we do! In fact, Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders has multiple clinics in the US. We have locations in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. We have addresses and directions on our Appointments page. Alternatively, you can call us to find the location closest to you.

We invite you to come in for a consultation with us here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders! Get in touch with us today to book with one of our sleep apnea dentists. We hope to see you soon.