Sleep Apnea

Do you wake up at night gasping for air? Does your sleep partner complain about your snoring? Do you feel tired all day even though you got plenty of rest?

You may have sleep apnea. Snoring is the most common sign of sleep apnea. Many people go undiagnosed for years since they sleep alone and don’t know that they are snoring, or a partner has learned to live with it and doesn’t realize the snoring is caused by a serious medical disorder affecting hundreds of thousands of people in this country every year.

Some other indications of sleep apnea include:

  • Feeling tired after a night’s rest
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Headaches upon waking
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Extreme drowsiness during the day
  • Memory loss

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can be a life threatening disorder that causes a number of potential health issues resulting from the lack of deep sleep and loss of oxygen to the brain. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the tongue falls backward while sleeping and blocks the upper airway. The body senses this lack of oxygen, injects adrenaline into the system, and wakes the person with a jolt.

Some of the health risks associated with sleep apnea include:

  • Stroke
  • Heart attack/heart disease
  • Irregular heart beat
  • High blood pressure
  • Headaches or migraines
  • Dementia
  • Impaired memory
  • Depression
  • Increased motor vehicle and work-related accidents

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Fortunately, there are very effective ways to treat sleep apnea, including oral appliances and, most commonly, a C-PAP machine. At Litchfield Dental Associates, we specialize in an alternative treatment for sleep apnea, an oral appliance that is custom made for you. The appliance realigns the jaw and tongue to ensure an open airway so you can breathe normally while sleeping. 

We help patients with sleep apnea improve their health and sleep, all without noisy and uncomfortable C-PAP machines! Call our office today for your sleep apnea consultation and start getting better sleep!