Sleep Apnea/Oral Appliances![]() How Is Sleep Apnea Caused?Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the muscles at the back of the throat relax. Due to this relaxation, the airway closes and becomes narrower, thus causing sleeping difficulty and loud snoring. Patients often snore or choke while sleeping during an obstructive sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is less common and is more of a neurological disorder. This type of sleep apnea disorder is caused when the brain fails to send signals to the muscle for the act of breathing. Shortness of breath and insomnia are some common symptoms of both types of sleep apnea. How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea?You can analyze your sleeping activity to know whether the symptoms for sleep apnea are present or not. The most common symptom is loud snoring. Other common symptoms include morning headache, tiredness throughout the day after an adequate amount of sleep, awakening with a dry mouth, and insomnia. Some patients have also complained of discomfort, irritation, and hypersomnia. During sleep, patients find it difficult to breathe and frequently gasp for air. How Do I Know If I Am At Risk Of Getting Sleep Apnea?There are several factors which increase the risk of getting a sleep apnea disorder. People with excessive weight or obesity are at high risk. Patients with nasal congestion, smokers, alcoholics, and males are at high risk of the disorder as well. Another key risk factor in patients with a prior family history of sleep apnea. Experts believe that patients who have suffered from stroke are also at high risk of disorder. People with these risk factors and significant symptoms should reach out to our team to see if these symptoms are indeed indicative of sleep apnea. How Can A Dentist Help?Seeking the help of a qualified dentist is necessary when sleep apnea affects your quality of life. Our team can help alleviate the effects of this disorder by creating mouthguards you can wear at night to keep your airways open and unblocked. By doing so, we can help you avoid the problems associated with heavy snoring and help you regain the healthful sleep you need. To know more about sleep apnea and its treatment, speak with us now. For more information contact HomeTown Dental at Alliance at (682) 312-6878 today. |
![]() HomeTown Dental at Alliance
8901 Tehama Ridge Pkwy, Suite 119 Fort Worth, Texas 76177 O: (682) 312-6878 Hours:
Monday: 12:00pm-6:00pm Wednesday: 9:00am-6:00pm Friday: 12:00pm-4:00pm Every Other Saturday: 9:00am-4:00pm |