4 Questions to Ask a Sleep Team

Sleep specialists have a comprehensive understanding of how sleep affects both physical and mental health. They are able to design a plan to improve a person’s sleep, improving their quality of life and their preventative care in the process. Sleep specialists can prescribe therapies, such as oral appliance therapy or CPAP, and can refer patients to other specialists when needed. Depending on the scope of the practice, a sleep specialist may also consult with or partner with specialists who can help with the management phase of a sleep disorder, including a sleep medicine dentist, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The first step in treating or managing a sleep-related problem is being seen, examined, and diagnosed by an experienced sleep specialist.

If you are experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms, it is recommended to see a sleep doctor as soon as possible:

– Chronic insomnia, which may be related to:
stress
mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression
asthma
chronic pain
narcolepsy
restless legs syndrome (RLS)
sleep apnea
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

– Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)

– Falling asleep at unusual times

– Snoring regularly during sleep

– Waking up many times throughout the night

– Increased heart rate while sleeping

– Regular daytime fatigue

– Restless legs syndrome during bedtime

– Loss of muscle control/movement while awake

– Choking, or gasping during sleep

– Waking up with a sore throat

– Waking up with a headache/jaw ache

There are many ways a person can go about fixing their sleeping problems. Sometimes lifestyle changes may be recommended to ameliorate sleep disorders, such as waking up at the same time each day, eliminate alcohol and stimulants like nicotine and caffeine, limiting naps, exercising regularly, not eating or drinking right before bed, making the sleeping environment more comfortable, and reducing stress. While these things can make a world of difference, sometimes they are not enough because the sleeping problems are caused by an underlying medical condition, such as sleep apnea or another TMJ disorder. In these cases, it is best to consult a dentist who specializes in sleep medicine, such as those at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders. They can help patients with mild to severe sleep disorders improve the quality of their sleep, which benefits all other areas of life.

The best kind of doctor to treat sleep apnea is a dentist who specializes in sleep medicine. These medical professionals are the most trusted experts in diagnosing, treating and preventing TMJ disorders that cause sleep problems and can help patients of all backgrounds and walks of life improve their quality of sleep.

If you are experiencing sleep problems, come to Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders to meet with our sleep specialist! Our kind and compassionate professionals are experienced in treating sleep disorders and can help you get a good night’s rest. Call one of our 8 locations to start improving your quality of sleep today! We have locations in: Bloomington, IL, Peoria – Dunlap, IL, Mishawaka, IN, Kansas City, MO, Wausau, WI and El Paso, TX. All of our clinics are open from Monday to Thursday, with several of them also open on Friday or Saturday. A better quality of sleep is only a phone call away! We look forward to serving you!