Our last blog focused on how we assess your sleep habits to help diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, we may also recommend a home sleep test for more accuracy and precision. In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist will explain how we test and treat issues like OSA, and help you greet the day rested and alert.
When to Seek Treatment
Sometimes we all have a little trouble falling asleep and staying that way. However, if you find yourself waking up frequently struggling to breathe or gasping for air, if you often feel moody and exhausted during the day, and if you suffer from headaches and dry mouth, then your issues could be related to OSA. Another major warning sign is frequent, loud snoring, especially on a nightly basis. If you experience one or more of these common issues, then you should let us know. OSA means that you stop breathing multiple times in the night because soft tissues in your throat and mouth collapse and block airways. The brain is waking you up and interrupting your rest, so even if you assume you rested throughout the night, you could still be sleep deprived and tired each day.
Assessments and Home Sleep Tests
We start with an assessment, in which we ask about your resting habits, such as how quickly you fall asleep, how long you stay that way, if you wake suddenly, and if you have risk factors for OSA. The next step is often a home sleep test. We send you home with a small device called a Pulse Oximeter that is worn as you sleep. The device takes records of breathing cessation, as well as heart rate and saturated oxygen levels. The device collects this data for our team to examine at a later date, providing a more accurate diagnosis for OSA.
Physician Ordered Sleep Study
To gain the most accurate data about how well you rest, our team may also suggest a Physician Ordered sleep study, in which you rest in a lab setting monitored by experts to better diagnose the presence of a disorder that keeps you from gaining the rest you need to function and stay alert during waiting hours.
Treatment Option
If we find you need treatment, don’t worry, we won’t recommend the CPAP machine. Instead, we can craft and prescribe a custom-made oral appliance that repositions the jaw to prevent the collapse of soft tissues in the night!
Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville Talks About Sleep Issues
At Smith Family Dentistry, our team would like to help you maintain good oral health and the ability to rest without difficulty. To learn more about addressing the source of your exhaustion, then talk to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.