Book your consultation for Sleep Apnea with Natural Dentistry in Clearwater, FL

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that interrupts your breathing at night. Patients who suffer from sleep apnea may deal with a wide range of dangerous health effects. While many patients rely on loud and uncomfortable CPAP devices to get relief, Dr. Beata A. Carlson and associates offer a portable, easy to use alternative to help you get better sleep at night. Patients looking to schedule a consultation for sleep apnea can contact our office in Clearwater, FL, to find relief.

Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea

While it is normal for people to occasionally pause breathing at night, especially after moderate or heavy drinking, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause hundreds of episodes that last ten or more seconds each night. Whenever these events occur, patients briefly wake up and start breathing again. This can put a heavy toll on your body as your blood oxygen saturation drops to abnormal levels, and your brain cannot maintain deep sleep.

Your brain uses sleep to reorganize your neurons, clear out the central nervous system of waste, and regulate your hormones. Disruptions to this cycle can affect your physical and mental health in many ways. You may wake up with headaches and pain or feel generally fatigued every day. You may deal with weight gain that’s difficult to lose, increased depression and anxiety levels, and elevated blood pressure. People with sleep apnea often wake up with a sore throat or dry mouth, and they often struggle with concentration throughout the day. 

Because sleep apnea occurs at night when your asleep, many people live with sleep apnea for years before a diagnosis, more often than not, your partner will notice you tossing and turning or gasping for breath each night before you do.

The three types of sleep apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea, and though the symptoms are generally the same, the root cause is different. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type. OSA occurs when your airway is obstructed when the muscles in your throat relax. Patients who are overweight or smoke and drink often are at a much higher risk of developing it. Patients with a thick neck circumference or issues with nasal congestion in their airway may also deal with OSA.

Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain isn’t signaling your body to breathe at night, and it is much less common than OSA. Complex sleep apnea occurs when both central and obstructive sleep apnea events are present. Treating these types of sleep apnea requires a combination of approaches, as well as trial and error. However, you can find treatment for OSA at Natural Dentistry.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea consultations 

Dr. Beata A. Carlson and Associates at Natural Dentistry can work with you to provide relief once you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea. There are a few ways we can help you reduce sleep apnea episodes and help you get more restful sleep.

The primary treatment is an oral appliance. Dr. Beata A. Carlson and Associates craft a custom-fitted Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) to wear each night. The device is designed to push your jaw forward at night and keep your tongue resting against your palate to promote an open airway. The MAD snaps directly onto your upper and lower arch, and it looks similar to a typical sports guard.

Unlike a CPAP machine, this device doesn’t require a power source, and once it’s fitted, it won’t need any adjustments to provide you relief. You’ll be able to take your MAD with you wherever you go without worry, and proper cleaning and care will ensure it lasts up to three years.

In addition to your oral appliance, Dr. Beata A. Carlson and Associates will evaluate your resting oral posture and look for ways to improve it. If your teeth are crooked or your jaw is out of alignment, she may recommend Invisalign or other orthodontics to improve the way your jaw fits together so your airway will stay open at night. She can also work with you on exercises that will strengthen your facial and jaw muscles and provide tips to improve your overall health and reduce your risk for sleep apnea.

While sleep apnea might not seem scary on its own, the consequences it can have on your health over time can be life-threatening. Don’t hesitate to find a treatment that works for you. Contact our office in Clearwater, FL, today at 727-888-6929 to schedule your sleep apnea consultation service.