Sleep Apnea Treatment for Better Sleep
Sleep apnea is a medical condition. It is something that is diagnosed by a licensed physician. A general dentist or a dentist such as myself that treats sleep apnea works in conjunction with the medical community. Basically what sleep apnea is, is at night you have trouble sleeping because your airway closes up at night. There’s different causes for this, but a lot of the time it has to do with just a small airway and when you lay back and gravity pushes it back, and your tongue goes back into your throat, you struggle to breathe.
The danger with sleep apnea is that what really happens is your oxygen levels in your body go down drastically at night, depending on how severe this is. That can be very dangerous. It’s been linked to heart attack, strokes, and things that are very life-threatening. There’s options to treat sleep apnea. The traditional medical model has been to use the mask. It’s called a “CPAP machine,” which is basically a mask that blows air and opens up your airway at night. It’s very effective, but it’s also very uncomfortable and maybe half the people that get them will actually use them.
There’s another option out there. They’re called “dental oral appliances.” Basically what we do is we make these appliances that fit in your mouth that move your jaw forward at night. When the jaw’s moving forward, it opens up the airway, which allows you to be able to breathe. These work great for people that have mild or moderate sleep apnea and those people that have severe apnea that don’t wear their CPAP machine. Using a dental appliance is better than not using anything. These dental appliances for sleep apnea, they’re more comfortable than the traditional mask. You can take them with you when you travel. You don’t have to lug around that box with a mask and the hoses. People just seem to feel like they’re more comfortable for them.
That is an option once we have you diagnosed with the sleep apnea. We can talk to you about your options and there’s also many different kinds of what we call “oral appliances.” We’d have to see which one would work best for you.
If you or your partner suffer from chronic snoring, contact Alluring Smiles to learn if you could benefit from a customized sleep apnea treatment.
At our Mesa, AZ dentist office, Dr. Portocarrero, a graduate of the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, doesn’t just do teeth – he can also improve your quality of life by helping you sleep more soundly!
Get Better, More Restful Sleep
Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by repeated interruptions to normal breathing during sleep. To get the quality rest you deserve, visit our Mesa, AZ dentist to learn if you could benefit from our sleep apnea treatment – a custom oral appliance. We have a 3D printer that allows us to create these sleep guards right here in our office.
This mouthguard-like oral appliance will shift your jaw slightly to open your airway more, improving your breathing while you sleep. Because your oral appliance will be custom-made just for you, it will be comfortable and work great!
You’ll feel rejuvenated in the morning and more focused during the day! You’ll also improve your overall health! Because sleep apnea can lead to decreased oxygen levels in your body, treating it with an oral appliance can help you avoid a wide variety of cardiovascular concerns in the future!
Potential Signs of Sleep Apnea
To know for sure if you are suffering from sleep apnea, we will refer you to a general physician we work with for testing. We also collaborate with a third party to administer sleep tests. Contact us right away for a professional evaluation if you are suffering from any of the following:
- Frequent headaches, especially in the morning
- Feeling as though you haven’t slept at all when getting up in the morning
- Chronic snoring
- Suddenly waking in the night feeling as though you’re gasping for air
- Trouble staying awake or maintaining focus during the day
- Frequently waking with a sore, dry throat
- Forgetfulness
If you are experiencing one or even all of these symptoms, visit our Mesa, AZ dentist office! We’ll do everything we can to help you!
Get Comfortable in Our Spa-Like Atmosphere
We want you to feel as relaxed as possible when you visit Alluring Smiles. To give our office a soothing ambiance, we have multiple waterfalls throughout the building. We also provide a comfort menu with various amenities for you to choose from, including:
- Massage chairs in every care room
- TVs with cable to entertain you
- Soft pillows and cozy blankets
- Aromatherapy
- Dental sedation options to relieve your dental anxiety
If there is anything we can do to make your visit more pleasant, just let one of our compassionate team members know!
Take the First Step Toward Better Sleep
Get relief from our sleep apnea treatment like an oral appliance from Alluring Smiles! Call Dr. Portocarrero at 480-830-6300, stop by our Mesa, AZ dentist office in person, or use our convenient online form to schedule or ask questions. We also serve Tempe, AZ, Apache Junction, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, and more. We can’t wait to help you sleep soundly!
