Florence, KY
Solve Sleep Apnea Disorder in Florence, KY
Simple, Effective Sleep Apnea Treatment
Treating Sleep Apnea in the Tri-State Area
Sleep apnea is a disorder that can be very dangerous to your immediate and future health. At the Dental Center of Florence, our team of experienced dentists has undergone extensive education and training on recognizing, evaluating, and treating sleep apnea. We offer a wide range of sleep apnea treatments in Florence, KY, and the Tri-State area. Our goal is to help our sleep apnea patients improve their sleep habits and overall health and reduce sleep apnea symptoms. We treat all types of sleep apnea, as well as snoring and other oral health issues. Call us to schedule an appointment today if you have noticed signs of sleep apnea.
Contact Us
What Are the Types of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a dangerous but common health condition that causes you to stop breathing for moments at a time while you’re sleeping. This happens due to an airway blockage, or because your brain isn’t controlling your breathing correctly. While the lack of oxygen causes you to wake up momentarily and resume normal breathing, the cycle repeats itself many times throughout the night. Sleep apnea can affect your sleep patterns, cause fatigue and exhaustion, and cause other dangerous and even deadly side effects. The three types of sleep apnea are:
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea – This is the most common type of sleep apnea. It happens when the muscles of your head and neck relax during sleep. This causes the surrounding tissues to put pressure on your windpipe, obstructing the flow of air.
- Central Sleep Apnea – This type of sleep apnea results from a problem in our brain. Your brain manages to breathe 24/7, but if your brain doesn’t send signals to your breathing-related muscles, you may stop breathing for moments throughout the night. Central sleep apnea can be caused by heart failure, low blood oxygen levels, nervous system damage, failure to effectively treat obstructive sleep apnea, and nervous system conditions.
- Mixed/Complex Sleep Apnea – Mixed or complex sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms & Signs of Sleep Apnea
Some patients might not realize they have sleep apnea until someone else observes them sleeping and points out that they appear to stop breathing for periods during the night. If you regularly sleep alone or have a partner who sleeps very soundly, you should be aware of the signs of sleep apnea that may appear during the day and night. Contact us today if you recognize any of these sleep apnea symptoms:
- Feeling exhausted upon waking up, even if you think you got a full night’s sleep
- Experiencing frequent or daily daytime sleepiness
- Heavy snoring during the night
- Changes in mood, particularly depression and anxiety
- Cognitive changes, like memory loss, trouble concentrating, and forgetfulness
- Repeatedly waking up throughout the night
- Breathing disruptions throughout the night that are witnessed by others
- Insomnia and restlessness at bedtime
- Night sweats
- Waking up and feeling like you’re choking or gasping for air
- Headaches, especially immediately upon waking
- Sexual dysfunction
The Importance of Treating Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea continually disrupts your sleep cycle throughout the night. This means you are not getting restful sleep. Sleep apnea also cuts off the flow of oxygen to your brain and causes your blood oxygen levels to drop. Over time, this will increase your risk of serious and deadly complications. By treating sleep apnea consistently and correctly, you can lower your risk of these health complications and get a good night’s sleep!
Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Certain risk factors may make it more likely for you to develop obstructive sleep apnea. Being aware of these risk factors can help you lower your chances of developing the disorder. You should work with your primary care physician and general dentist to address these risk factors in a safe, healthy way:
- Excess weight or obesity
- Enlarged tonsils or adenoids that obstruct your airway
- A naturally narrow airway
- High blood pressure
- Chronic nasal congestion
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Asthma
Managing conditions like asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, and nasal congestion may lower your risk of sleep apnea. So can quitting smoking and losing weight. Other risk factors of sleep apnea, such as your age, sex (males are more likely to develop sleep apnea) and family history of the disorder cannot be treated, so it’s important to manage any other risk factors you have.
Long-Term Effects of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can cause dangerous complications if untreated. The sooner you recognize the warning signs of sleep apnea and get treatment, the lower your risk is of these complications:
- Heart damage
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmias
- Sudden cardiac death
- Severe fatigue and sleep loss
Our Sleep Apnea Treatment Plans & Snoring Solutions
Our team of dentists can conduct a thorough physical examination to evaluate you for sleep apnea. We will also ask questions about your sleep habits and screen you for warning signs of sleep apnea. We use advanced technology to develop a customized dental treatment plan designed to correct irregular breathing patterns caused by sleep apnea. Our goal is to help you get a good night’s sleep and alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. We offer snoring solutions and different sleep apnea treatment options depending on your age, overall health, sleep apnea symptoms, and personal preference. If you have dental anxiety and are worried about your visit, we can offer offer IV sedation. We can also refer you to a medical specialist if we believe you need sleep apnea surgery or a sleep apnea implant.
Explore Your Sleep Apnea Treatment Options Today
Call us today or request an appointment online to discuss sleep apnea treatment options. We proudly serve the Tri-State area, and our team of experienced dentists can assess your risk of sleep apnea, evaluate your symptoms, and run diagnostic tests to determine if you have sleep apnea. We also offer emergency dental care.