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Sherman Oaks Snoring and Sleep Apnea
At Sherman Oaks Dentistry, we understand how snoring can cause a lack of sleep and discomfort as well as affect one’s long-term physical health. Although the degrees of severity vary, snoring can range from mild discomfort to a more serious, life-threatening issue.
Often, people confuse sleep apnea with snoring and dismiss it as a nuisance when it can actually be a warning sign of a much more severe underlying issue.
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a clinical disorder that inhibits air from entering the airways while sleeping. In general, it is a breathing disorder that doctors identify as episodes of inability to breathe, which can have detrimental effects on one’s overall physical health.
Our Sherman Oaks Dentistry sleep apnea dentists specialize in treatments from mild snoring to obstructive sleep apnea in Sherman Oaks, CA, and we are ready and available to begin improving the quality of your sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea vs. Snoring
Understanding sleep apnea is a critical tool in understanding whether you or your loved one will need dental solutions from our Sherman Oaks Dentistry snoring and sleep apnea team. Be sure to understand the similarities and differences between snoring and sleep apnea.
Both are caused by the lower jaw moving backward during sleep, resulting in the soft palate & mouth tissues blocking the airway while restricting airflow to the lungs.
With sleep apnea, blockages can last up to 10 seconds or more. This blockage dangerously decreases oxygen levels and can disturb sleep. Although the body will continue to breathe unconsciously, it is acquiring little to no airflow, a situation that can be potentially life-threatening if left untreated over time. Snoring, although irritating, is non-life-threatening if warning signs do not appear.
Thankfully, our sleep apnea treatment at Sherman Oaks has options for all patients who are experiencing discomfort from snoring and OSA.
Warning Signs and How to Identify Your Sherman Oaks Treatment Plan
People who suffer from sleep apnea most often aren’t suffering alone. Spouses and family members may also experience discomfort and trouble sleeping, which is why our team at Sherman Oaks Dentistry is dedicated to finding you an effective sleep apnea treatment for the sake of your health, as well as that of other members of your household.
Have you or a loved one been experiencing any of these warning signs?
- Frequently wake yourself up from snoring
- Extreme lack of sleep and tiredness
- Interrupting the sleep of the household with excessive snoring
If any of the above signs are prevalent in your household, call our dedicated team at Sherman Oaks Dentistry to secure the proper treatment plan.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
As with any clinical disorder, sleep apnea exhibits varying degrees of severity. Snoring, although uncomfortable, doesn’t necessarily signify that you have a breathing disorder. But if snoring any or several of the symptoms below accompany your snoring, it may be time to consider a treatment plan with our sleep apnea specialists at Sherman Oaks Dentistry.
- Choking or gasping for air
- Daytime fatigue
- Decreased libido
- Difficulties concentrating
- Loud and frequent snoring
- Insomnia
- Irritability and mood swings
- Memory loss
- Morning headaches
- Never feeling fully rested
- Silent pausing in breathing
Nocturia (excessively waking up during the night to use the bathroom)
Additionally, several risk factors associated with sleep apnea may lead a doctor to diagnose you with OSA.
These risk factors include:
- Being male (men are twice as likely to struggle with OSA)
- Obesity
- Family history
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Larger neck size (men 17” / women 16”+)
- Middle age
After assessing the risk factors, our team can address each patient’s needs on a personalized level.
At Sherman Oaks Dentistry, we offer a wide variety of dental treatments for snoring & sleep apnea.
Ranging from the usage of oral appliances to reconstructive surgery, we specifically tailor each treatment to you or your loved one to ensure that all our patients receive the most effective treatment possible.
Our Sherman Oaks Team is Here to Help!
If you are experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, be sure to get a complete workup from your physician to rule out other possible issues. As sleep apnea treatments are readily available from our Sherman Oaks Dentistry team, once you have a sleep apnea diagnosis, we’re ready to find the perfect treatment plan for you.
Call us at Sherman Oaks Dentistry in Sherman Oaks, CA, today at (818) 722-2253 to discuss how to enhance your quality of sleep.
Q&A From Our Sherman Oaks Sleep Apnea Dentists
The simplest solution is making slight behavioral or lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, or adjusting your sleep position. For more serious cases, you may need a CPAP to force the airway open and avoid collapse. The final option is surgery to extract excess throat tissue to expand the throat cavity and allow for unconstricted breathing.
CPAP machines are extremely effective in reducing snoring for patients suffering from sleep apnea. However, this treatment may not be suitable for all individuals.
As all cases are different, our team of doctors will seek out every option available to find a treatment that may reverse your particular case of sleep apnea.
Being overweight, excessive drinking, hypertension, having a larger neck, being a male, family history, and being middle-aged are several factors that can worsen sleep apnea.