DO I HAVE SLEEP APNEA?

If you feel as though you have no energy and are too tired to keep up with your friends and family, you should visit our dental office to talk about sleep apnea. This may be what is causing your issues, and a simple non-invasive treatment may be just what you need to feel like yourself again. To schedule an appointment with our 92392 dental office, call (760) 955-2273. We will be happy to discuss your treatment and then make a recommendation for how you should proceed

Sleep Apnea Doctor

WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?

Sleep apnea is a condition that makes it difficult for your body to receive the oxygen you need to properly function. Without enough oxygen, you will feel drained and sluggish, but since the condition manifests itself at night, most people have no idea that they have it. There are many health problems that can arise from untreated sleep apnea. They can include a stroke, high blood pressure, headaches, diabetes, depression, mood swings, heart failure, ADHD that becomes worse, and an overall lack of wellbeing.

With little oxygen, your body will have a difficult time functioning. Beyond the health effects, this can translate to not having enough energy to stay awake past dinner, enjoy your kid’s birthday parties, go for a bike ride, or even drive your car. In fact, when you are tired, the basic and often mundane activities of life can put you to sleep. This can make it dangerous to get behind the wheel and could compromise your work performance. Essentially, your quality of life can be greatly diminished, making it critical that you visit a Torrance dentist to have your sleep apnea treated.

What are the two main types of sleep apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your lower jawbone muscles will be too weak to hold your jaw in place as you sleep. As a result, it can fall backward and your tongue with it. Your tongue will then block your airway, making it impossible to breathe clearly while sleeping. This is why people with OSA will typically snore or sound like they are choking in their sleep. This is one of the signs that the body is trying to move the tongue in order to breathe. Another cause of OSA is having too much fatty tissue in the back of your throat. This is one reason obesity is a risk factor for OSA.

Central Sleep Apnea. In this condition, the brain is responsible for the sleep apnea. By not sending signals to the muscles in charge of breathing, your body fails to respond as it should. This is not something that can be treated by a dentist, but instead, you will need to see a specialist.

How is sleep apnea treated?

At Liberty Village Dental Care, we recommend that patients explore all non-invasive treatment options first. This is why we will often suggest that our Victorville, CA patients wear a removable oral appliance. An oral appliance is a convenient treatment option because it does not make any noise and is incredibly discrete. Some patients also require the use of a CPAP machine to provide them with additional oxygen. The challenge with a CPAP is that it can be loud and uncomfortable to wear. The third treatment option for OSA is to have surgery to remove the extra fatty tissue blocking your airway.

How does an oral appliance work?

Wearing an oral appliance is incredibly easy. It is customized for your mouth specifically so it fits snugly and securely. As a result, you can simply slip it into place when you go to sleep. It remains in place inside of your mouth and does an excellent job of holding your lower jaw in the forward position. This prevents your tongue from falling backward and keeps your airway clear. Some people receive all of the benefit they need by wearing an oral appliance, while those with severe sleep apnea may also require the use of a CPAP machine at the same time. In this case, most patients report that their CPAP is far more comfortable than when they were using it as a standalone treatment option.

Sleep apnea is a physical condition that makes it impossible to breathe clearly while you are sleeping. As a result, your body will not get enough oxygen to function at an optimal level. A sleep disorder can be one of the following:

Insomnia– When it comes to sleep disorders, insomnia can be long-term or temporary. Often brought on by external factors like stress, insomnia can be treated with an oral medication.

Narcolepsy– As a sleep disorder, narcolepsy is by far the worst. It can impact you throughout your entire life, making you feel so exhausted that you are forced to suddenly fall asleep, regardless of where you are or what you are doing. Narcolepsy is a true life disrupter.
Restless leg syndrome– Commonly impacting pregnant women, restless leg syndrome can force your legs to move all throughout the night. Giving you a feeling of constant tingles or a burning and itching sensation, RLS can be highly distracting and impact anyone at any time. It helps to go for a walk or exercise during the day, since those who are sedentary tend to experience RLS more frequently.
Snoring– If you snore too loudly, you could wake up your Torrance neighbors, your spouse, or just yourself. Many people cannot get a good night’s sleep because they snore too loudly, and this condition is often brought on by sleep apnea.

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Dental Implants

We provide dental implants so that our patients can regain their self-confidence, improve their health, and approach life boldly.

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We can provide you with the surgical procedure you need to maintain or restore your oral health.

Smile Makeover

Regardless of how your teeth look today, we can improve your smile using a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Dental Crowns

A dental crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth. We will typically use a crown to restore a tooth that has been severely damaged.

While we understand that many people wait to seek dental care due to anxiety, time, or finances, we do not recommend it. Instead, we suggest that you schedule a dental exam now, even if you aren’t experiencing any discomfort. Doing so will allow us to remove any plaque or bacteria that has built up on your teeth, ensure that you don’t have any cavities that are forming and prevent you from experiencing gum disease. Our goal is to treat you before you have any health issues, and a dental check-up is designed to allow us to do so. If you live in the 92392 area, it doesn’t matter why you haven’t been to the dentist in a while. We welcome you to come back in so that we can protect and improve your oral health.

American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of dental terms. 2015
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home page. 2015
WebMD. WebMD’s oral care guide. 2015

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3790 Bear Valley Rd E-5, Victorville, CA 92392

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(760) 955-2273

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