Treatment Options for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Snoring and Sleep ApneaHere at our office in New Hope, PA, our dentist, Dr. Dawn Rickert, is not only committed to keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible, but he is also dedicated to ensuring that you maintain a great quality of sleep. After all, snoring and sleep apnea can lead to everything from mental fog and weight gain to more serious health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. Read on to learn how our New Hope general dentist can help treat your sleep disorder symptoms!

Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that causes the soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the airways. As you might imagine, when the airway is blocked, a person’s ability to breathe is greatly hindered.

These breathing cessations can happen hundreds of times in one night, lasting anywhere from a couple of seconds to a minute straight. Not only does this cause poor quality sleep, but if untreated, OSA can also increase your risk of,

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke
  • Heart disease
  • Heart attack
  • Asthma

This is why it’s so important that you see a doctor if you are experiencing any of these OSA symptoms:

  • Chronic snoring
  • Extreme daytime fatigue (despite getting enough hours of sleep)
  • Moodiness and irritability
  • Mental fog and problems concentrating
  • Morning headaches
  • Insomnia or restless sleep
  • Acid reflux

Treating Snoring and Sleep Apnea

While not all snorers have obstructive sleep apnea, most people with OSA do snore. In fact, this is sometimes the only sign that a person is dealing with OSA. Given this fact, if you have been experiencing chronic snoring, it's important that you see a sleep specialist who can diagnose your condition and possibly create a customized treatment plan for you.

However, in some cases, a patient dealing with minor or moderate OSA may be able to find relief from sleep apnea with the help of their dentist right here in New Hope, PA. This is due to the wonders of oral appliance therapy: a simple custom-made device that fits over your upper and lower teeth like a mouthguard in order to reposition the jaws and keep the airways open.

While this oral device may not be right for patients dealing with severe OSA, even those with severe symptoms who require CPAP therapy may also find better symptom management results by combining CPAP with oral appliance therapy.

Concerned? Give Us a Call!

If you are dealing with daytime exhaustion and restless sleep due to snoring or sleep apnea, then it’s time to seek treatment. Find out how our dental team can help by calling New Hope Cosmetic & Family Dentistry today. Our number is (215) 862-2525.

Office Hours

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 AM - 2:00PM (ALT)

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

7:30 AM - 12:30 PM (ALT)

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed