SLEEP APNEA DENTIST IN GREENSBORO, NC

Who has Sleep Apnea?

If you think you have sleep apnea, you’re not alone. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common problem that can affect people of any age and body type. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine reports that at least 25 million adults in the United States suffer from sleep apnea.

Although sleep apnea can occur at any age, the risk increases as you get older. While the sleep disorder is more common in men, it can occur in women too, especially during and after menopause. Having excess body weight, a narrow airway, a recessed chin or misaligned jaw all can increase the risk of sleep apnea.

How do I Know if I Have Sleep Apnea?

Perhaps the most important question to ask yourself is, are you getting a good night’s sleep? If not, try recording yourself sleeping or ask your bed partner to listen while you sleep. Pay attention to the following warning signs.

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Listen for:

Loud, frequent snoring – Loud and frequent snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea.

Breathing pauses – By definition, sleep apnea involves repeated breathing pauses throughout the night. Your bed partner may hear you gasp for breath in your sleep or may wait (slightly panicked) to hear you take your next breath.

Watch for:

Excessive daytime sleepiness (the ability to fall asleep anywhere, at any time)

Memory problems

Irritability or moodiness

Decreased sex drive or impotence

Morning headaches

Acid reflux symptoms such as indigestion and heart burn or chest pain

If you think you may have sleep apnea – don’t worry – we can help. Our team at Sandra L. Fuller, DDS can answer your questions about obstructive sleep apnea, including the process for diagnosis and treatment options, including the highly effective oral appliance therapy treatment. The first step is for you to be diagnosed by a physician – and we can refer you to a great sleep doctor to get you started. Schedule a consultation to discuss sleep apnea by contacting our Greensboro Dental Office or schedule your next visit online By Clicking HERE.

I think I have Sleep Apnea, what should I do?

To determine if you have sleep apnea, it’s best to setup a consultation with our Greensboro office. Depending on your results, Dr. Fuller may be able to treat your sleep apnea with something as simple as an oral appliance (mouthguard).

Oral appliances advance the mandible and soft tissues to prevent their collapse during sleep which obstructs the airway causing sleep apnea. Oral appliances are comfortable to wear and are very successful in mild to moderate sleep apnea cases. Additionally, basic treatment can be behavioral — for instance, you may be instructed to lose weight, stop smoking, or sleep on your side instead of on your back. For patients with mild to moderate OSA, we find that treatment with an oral appliance is extremely effective.

IF you suspect that your or someone in your family suffer from sleep apnea, contact our Greensboro dental practice, and we can refer you to a sleep apnea specialist if needed. A sleep study may be recommended to diagnose the precise extent of the problem. Depending on your situation, treatment may involve an oral device that we can custom-create for you.

Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea that fits easily into your lifestyle. A dental oral appliance looks like a sports mouth guard and is worn only during sleep. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway, preventing sleep apnea and snoring. 

Once you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea by a sleep physician, a dentist experienced in dental sleep medicine can make a custom-fitted oral appliance using impressions and models of your teeth. Oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans. Patients like it because it’s comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable, convenient for travel and easy to clean.

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Treating snoring or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can help you feel like a new person. You will find that your symptoms, and your quality of life, can improve dramatically when you remain committed to your treatment and use it nightly. Custom-fit oral appliances from Dr. Sandra Fuller can improve your sleep, restore your alertness and revitalize your health.

If you have concerns about snoring and sleep apnea, it may be time to make an Appointment. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, I can recommend a sleep physician to help get you started on your path to treatment. If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, I can fit you with an oral appliance. Our Greensboro Dental team at Sandra L. Fuller, DDS is ready to answer your questions about obstructive sleep apnea, dental sleep medicine and oral appliance therapy.

While snoring is a common problem for many people, it can also be a sign of other major health complications. It is estimated that more than 80 million people in North America snore while sleeping, which not only affects the quality of sleep of the person snoring, but also the quality of sleep of their loved ones and other family members. Luckily, there is a way to treat chronic snoring.

WHAT CAUSES SNORING?

Snoring can be the result of several factors. Typically, snoring is caused by the relaxing of the muscles and soft tissues in the throat and mouth, making the air passage smaller. The decrease in space through the airway makes it harder for each breath to get through, and when it does get through, it moves over the soft tissues in the mouth and throat and causes a vibration that results in the snoring sound. Other causes of snoring may include:

Excess body weight

Alcohol consumption

Certain sleep aides or sedatives

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

WHAT IS A MANDIBULAR ADVANCEMENT DEVICE?

If you snore at night, then a mandibular advancement device (MAD) may represent a solution and a better night’s sleep! The MAD is a specially designed dental device that gently helps keep the lower jaw, or mandible, in a forward position, increasing the space between the airway passage and helping you breathe better so you can get a full, quiet night’s sleep.

Some devices also stop the tongue from falling back over your windpipe. Your dentist will fit these special appliances to meet your individual condition.

IS A MAD COMFORTABLE?

The answer is simple — YES! A mandibular advancement device is made to be comfortable, so that you can sleep without even noticing you’re wearing it. It does not prevent you from breathing with your mouth open and will even eliminate snoring for patients with sinus congestion or allergies. You may experience some slight stiffness of the jaw for the first few mornings after wearing the device, but this feeling is only temporary, and will go away after you wake up and remove the device.

To learn more about a mandibular advancement device, contact our practice and schedule an appointment and consultation.

WHAT IS TMJ AND DO I HAVE IT?

Pain and health related problems associated with disorders of the Temporomandibular Joint, or the jaw, are commonly referred to as TMJ/TMD. These problems that arise may seem mysterious to you but they luckily can be treated by the growing number of healthcare practitioners who are qualified to diagnose and treat Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD).

Many patients live for years with TMD and only seek treatment once they can no longer bear the pain. In others, TMD can be caused by trauma to the head, neck, or jaw region and symptoms can appear quickly. In both these cases, the symptoms are relatively similar, and both follow a natural progression, so it is best to reach out for treatment sooner rather than later. Here is what you should look for.

Some of the symptoms of TMJ/TMD include: 

Pain or tenderness of the jaw

Pain in and around your ears

Pain in your temporomandibular joints

Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing

Aching facial or Myofascial pain

Headaches

Locking of your joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth

Toothaches

Please visit our New Greensboro Dentist Sleep & TMJ Website for more information. Call our office today to schedule your TMJ consultation, we are always here to help!