Our last blog discussed how your Greenville, TX, dentist helps assess your potential risk of a disorder like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic snoring. In today’s blog, we’re going to continue this by examining our home sleep study, which provides a precise and accurate diagnosis from the comfort of your own bed.

Symptoms and Assessments

Let’s explain what OSA means. Basically, it means that as you rest, the soft tissues that reside in the rear of your mouth and in your throat end up too relaxed, collapsing and cutting off airflow. You stop breathing for a moment, until the brain wakes you. This interrupts your sleep cycle, even if you don’t remember it occurring. Over the course of the night, this could happen hundreds of times and leave you feeling exhausted the next day. People with OSA often experience chronic snoring, waking up gasping for air or choking, dry mouth, headaches, trouble staying focused or alert, drowsiness, or moodiness. If you experience one or more of these warning signs, we will offer an assessment to better your gauge your nighttime habits and potential symptoms.

The Home Sleep Study

If your symptoms and assessment show someone suffering from a disorder like OSA, the next step is a more accurate and precise diagnosis, one that is conducted in the comfort of your own home. Basically, we will send you home with a small device called a Pulse Oximeter. The machine actually registers your breathing, cessation of breathing, and oxygen levels. The results the device records will give our team an idea of the severity of your OSA, and what kinds of treatment will best address the issue.

Will I Need a Lab Study?

In some cases, we may still recommend a lab study, in which you will rest in a lab and be monitored throughout the night. This offers the most accurate diagnosis possible.

Sleep Appliances

If we find you need treatment, we will likely offer a convenient and comfortable solution with an oral appliance. The device is worn as you sleep and fits like a mouthguard. However, the appliance actually repositions the jaw in a specific way to ensure you breathe without interruption. Patients then experience a reduction in symptoms, and feel more alert during the day. If you have any questions about diagnosing or treating this concern, or about our home sleep study in particular, then contact our team today.

Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville Diagnosis OSA From Home

At Smith Family Dentistry, we know the value of proper rest and want to help you obtain a better quality of life, feeling more rested and alert. To learn more about treating serious disorders with comfortable appliances, then talk to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.