While you might like to make fun, in a good-natured way, of any snorers in your household, the underlying condition that your loved one faces, known as sleep apnea, is no joke. Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that can actually be life-threatening if not properly diagnosed and treated. That said, here is some good news for anyone dealing with this bad scenario: our Kennewick WA dental practice can actually treat snoring and sleep apnea. Keep reading to hear more about it, and then call us at [phone] to request your sleep dentistry consultation.

The Truth About Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea and snoring go hand in hand. However, snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, not the true problem. Sleep apnea happens when you have pauses in your overnight breathing, and you may have no idea that it is happening.

Just so you know, there are two forms of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common and it is the one that we can treat as oral health professionals.

Here’s how it happens: usually the tongue gets in the way blocking off your airway. Severe cases of sleep apnea can entail something like 30 unique pauses in breathing EACH HOUR.

What’s the big deal? During pauses in breathing, your blood pressure goes up. It’s not uncommon for patients with serious sleep apnea to experience other problems too.

Among other things, as a sleep apnea sufferer, you’ll be at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. And then there’s the possibility that YOU JUST MIGHT DIE.

The Warning Signs

We’ve already talked about snoring and waking up gasping for air as telltale signs of sleep apnea. Others include:

• Recurring headaches
• Experiencing a sore throat
• Waking up feeling exhausted (even after eight hours or more of sleep)
• Constant drowsiness
• Insomnia
• Increased levels or anger or ongoing irritability

Sleep Apnea Treatment In Kennewick WA

You may have heard about the CPAP machine that has been used for decades to counteract sleep apnea. It is a mechanical device that makes a lot of noise and requires you to wear a mask. It works, but is a less than ideal solution for most folks, and so compliance tends to be low.

But there is another way! Our Kennewick WA dental office is using a completely comfortable and totally portable oral appliance to treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Our oral appliance is made to fit your one-of-a-kind mouth. It functions by moving the lower jaw forward. This is gentle manipulation gets the job (of keeping your airways open) done and most patients get used to the feeling within a couple of nights.

Call Today To Schedule An Easy Appointment

If you have been inspired to take back your nights, and your quality of life, it’s time to come see us. When you get here, we can quickly assess your problem and design a custom sleep apnea treatment plan. To schedule an appointment at Grandridge Dental, call our Kennewick, WA office today at 509-380-9046 or fill out our convenient online form.