Could Your “Snoring Problem” Really Be Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Snoring may seem harmless enough, but did you know that it is actually one of the most common signs of sleep apnea? Sleep apnea can be deadly when left untreated, so if you’ve suffered from chronically poor sleep habits — or if your partner is constantly complaining that you keep them up at night with your snoring! — then it might be time to visit your doctor and see if sleep apnea is to blame.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder most commonly indicated by irregular, start-and-stop breathing patterns. The most common symptoms are loud snoring, dry mouth upon waking, headaches, insomnia, and feeling fatigued despite sleeping for a normal duration during the night. There are three primary types of sleep apnea, and each one comes with its own recommended treatments and courses of action:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea — the most common form of sleep apnea; caused by excessive relaxation of throat muscles during sleep, which blocks your airways and prevents oxygen from reaching your lungs
Central Sleep Apnea — a less common but equally serious variety of sleep apnea; results from miscommunication or disrupted communication between your brain and the muscles that control breathing
Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome — also referred to as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea; caused by the rare co-occurence of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea

What Are the Risks of Sleep Apnea?

There are many risks to leaving sleep apnea untreated, the most critical of which is death. Symptoms and related conditions will emerge the longer it goes unaddressed, and these may manifest in the following ways:

• High Blood Pressure
• Cardiac Problems
• Hormone Disruption
• Snoring
• Depression
• Memory Problems
• Stroke
• Increased Insulin Resistance
• Death

Snoring doesn’t just keep your partner up at night. If your snoring is actually an indicator of sleep apnea, then it could be putting your health, wellness, and frankly, your life at risk. Leaving sleep apnea untreated is not just dangerous — in the most severe cases, it can be fatal.

If you’ve had trouble with CPAP therapy in the past, and you need a sleep apnea treatment option that works better for you, we may be able to help. Is our sleep apnea mouthpiece the right option for you? Find out by scheduling your appointment with our dentist in Texarkana! The consultation is free, and there are no obligations for you to commit to anything.

What Treatments Are Available For Sleep Apnea? 

If you do have sleep apnea, it’s important to find the right treatment option as soon as possible. If left untreated, sleep apnea can worsen, exacerbate symptoms, and even cause death. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy, or CPAP, is the most common treatment option prescribed for sleep apnea. However, it’s not ideal for everyone. Many CPAP users find the device so uncomfortable to use that they would prefer to go without it, and even those who do manage to wear their CPAP machine often find that they just don’t get the treatment they need. In both scenarios, the individual is placed at greater risk of bodily harm or worse.

Have you tried CPAP therapy and found it ineffective, or are you frustrated with the uncomfortable feeling of trying to sleep with a bulky device? If so, there are alternative treatment options available — and we can help! 

At Texarkana Dentist, Dr. Andrew S. Curry and his team of qualified dental professionals have used sleep apnea mouthpieces to help hundreds of people struggling with chronic sleep disorders find the effective, comfortable solutions for which they’ve been searching.

Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces & Sleep Appliances

Sleep apnea mouthpieces, often called sleep appliances, have been effective for treating symptoms of many chronic snorers and individuals with sleep apnea, including those suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Unlike most CPAP machines, a sleep apnea mouthpiece is custom-tailored to meet your unique face shape and sleeping habits, so you can feel comfortable while receiving the treatment — and peace of mind — we all hope to get from a good night’s sleep.

How Does A Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece Work?

Sleep apnea mouthpieces work in a simple but effective way. They are designed to push your jaw slightly forward in order to create more space in the back of the throat, which prevents the obstruction that causes the breathing and snoring issues. 

Is a sleep apnea mouthpiece the right option for you? 

There’s no harm in trying to find out! The initial consultation for a sleep apnea mouthpiece from Texarkana Dentist is free of charge, and there is no obligation to purchase anything after your appointment. In most instances, your insurance will cover the cost of your stop-snoring mouthpiece.

A better night’s sleep is just a phone call away! Let Dr. Curry and his expert dental assistants help you and your family get a better night of sleep with our sleep apnea treatment solutions.

About the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine

Why choose Andrew S. Curry, D.D.S. for your sleep apnea treatment? Dr. Curry is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), the only non-profit professional association dedicated exclusively to the practice of dental sleep medicine. Dr. Curry helps treat snoring and obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy, an effective treatment that is covered by most insurance plans. AADSM membership provides Dr. Curry with access to educational resources and practice management tools that help him better serve his patients by providing the highest quality of care in the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. For more information about AADSM, visit www.aadsm.org.

If you snore or have obstructive sleep apnea, don’t put off finding the effective treatment you need. Turn to Dr. Curry to learn more about our sleep apnea mouthpieces and find out if it’s the right treatment option for you. Schedule your consultation today.