Create a Beautiful Smile
Sleep Apnea Treatment Services
Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing becomes interrupted during sleep. This disorder prevents the brain from getting a regular supply of oxygen and can lead to many health-related problems throughout the body, including stroke, heart attack, and diabetes. Dr. Stroud has several methods and devices available to treat this threat to your overall health.
Obstructive sleep apnea has many signs and symptoms. These may include, but are not limited to:
- waking up gasping for breath
- snoring
- grinding/clenching your teeth during sleep
- afternoon sleepiness or dozing off
- waking up frequently
- hard time waking up in the morning
The first step is a simple sleep test with a high-resolution pulse oximeter. This test determines if the heart rate and oxygen levels are within an acceptable range during sleep. Oxygen levels increase and decrease throughout the sleep cycle, which makes the heart rate increase to continue to supply oxygen to the body. The heart basically works out while the body is at rest, which causes a tremendous strain on this organ and can lead to a multitude of other health concerns.
If testing indicates moderate to severe sleep apnea, a medical doctor may prescribe a CPAP or BiPAP machine. If the CPAP machine is difficult to wear, however, there are other ways to potentially treat this condition. Sleep apnea that falls into the mild to moderate range may be relieved by a dental appliance.
Surgery may also be an option to resolve snoring and other sleep apnea-related issues.
BiteFX
BiteFX is a computer program that helps patients learn about themselves. It helps to explain TMJ disorders and sleep apnea while demonstrating how dentistry can help with these health concerns.