When you experience the common warning signs of a disorder like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you need to seek treatment to avoid worsening complications for both your immune system and your heart health! In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist not only looks at the warning signs of OSA, but talks about the thorough assessment we use to diagnose you.
Common Warning Signs
When should you consider contacting our office? Well, chronic snoring is often a sign of trouble, as this means restricted air passages as you sleep. With OSA, collapsing soft tissues in the throat and the back of the mouth mean airflow is cut off completely, so you stop breathing. Symptoms could include daytime drowsiness, moodiness, trouble staying focused, headaches, and dry mouth. In the long-term, this disorder could train both your immune system and your heart health, leading to major overall health complications. If you experience one or more if these potential warning signs, then please contact our team today to learn more.
The Assessment Process
When we perform your sleep assessment, we will look at a number of different factors that could impact your ability to sleep. For example, we will look at snoring frequency, how exhausted you feel on a daily basis, and your overall weight and blood pressure. Our team also assesses risk factors and symptoms of irritability and depression, your mental health, breathing quality, and how fast you lose energy during each day, among other factors. At the end, we can make a thorough diagnosis and discover whether or not you need treatment for snoring or OSA.
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
For many people, we treat the disorder with an oral appliance. The device will look and fit much like a mouthguard, and is worn as you sleep. We design and craft them based on detailed impressions and images, ensuring they fit properly and provide optimal treatment. The device actually moves the jaw forward to ensure you breathe without interruption, avoiding symptoms of the disorder and enjoying better quality of life.
Possible Lifestyle Changes
You may also benefit from changes to your daily habits. For example, losing weight, sleeping on your side, keeping your bedroom dark and cool, and maintaining a regular sleep schedule (going to bed and waking up at the same times each day) could be very beneficial. If you have any questions about how we assess your risk, or about identifying and treating OSA, then contact our team today.
Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville Offers An Assessment
At Smith Family Dentistry, we take steps to ensure you undergo a diagnosis with accuracy and precision. Learn more about the process of diagnosing your sleep troubles, then talk to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.