What if I don’t treat my sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea likely won’t go away on its own unless treated by qualified sleep dentists. If left untreated, sleep apnea can severely impact your overall mental wellness, with the consequences being potentially life-threatening. Some of these complications include anxiety, depression, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

How can sleep apnea treatment improve my mental health?

Constant interruptions with your REM cycle can cause a chemical imbalance in your brain, causing irritability and difficulty in processing emotions. If left untreated, this can also contribute to developing depression and anxiety. Fortunately, sleep apnea treatment is designed to boost your mental health by giving your brain the quality rest it needs during the night.

Can stress make my sleep apnea symptoms worse?

Anxiety and stress-related disorders like PTSD can cause a person to develop sleep apnea patterns. Additionally, repeatedly being jarred out of sleep because you’re trying to gasp for air can also further complicate already-existing issues such as memory performance, headaches, feeling fatigued, and lack of concentration. If you continue to struggle with persistent nightmares, stress, or other issues, it’s important to seek treatment.

Sleep Apnea Treatment | Dentist in Wilmington & Seaford, DE

Restoring Sleep and Health for a Better Tomorrow

Sleep apnea is a widespread sleep disorder that impacts millions across the globe, including many in the Wilmington and Seaford communities. If you wake up feeling exhausted and unrested, it could be a sign of sleep apnea. Fortunately, you don’t have to continue suffering. Brown and Baran Family Dentistry offers advanced sleep apnea treatment in Wilmington and Seaford, ensuring you get the restorative sleep you deserve.

If you suspect sleep apnea is affecting your health, don’t wait to seek professional care. Schedule your appointment today with our dentists in Wilmington and Seaford, DE, by calling our Wilmington office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford office at (302) 536-7589.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition marked by interrupted breathing during sleep. It occurs when the muscles in the throat and mouth relax, leading to partial or complete airway blockage. This obstruction restricts airflow, causing breathing pauses lasting a few seconds to several minutes. These interruptions can happen multiple times throughout the night, severely disrupting sleep quality.

There are three types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): The most common form, OSA, occurs when throat muscles relax, blocking the airway.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): CSA is less common and involves the brain failing to send correct signals to the muscles responsible for breathing.
Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome (CSAS): Also known as mixed sleep apnea, CSAS is both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

Loud snoring
Pauses in breathing during sleep, which a bed partner often observes
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Morning headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Fatigue
Frequent awakenings during the night to urinate (nocturia)
Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, contact our Wilmington or Seaford dental office today to schedule a consultation. Early diagnosis can significantly improve your quality of life.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

There are various causes and risk factors for developing sleep apnea. These include:

Gender: Men are at a higher risk, though the risk for women increases after menopause.
Age: While more common in older adults, sleep apnea can affect all age groups, including children.
Family History: A family history of sleep apnea may increase the risk.
Alcohol and Sedative Use: The consumption of alcohol or sedative medications can relax throat muscles, increasing the risk of airway obstruction.
Smoking: Smokers have a higher likelihood of developing sleep apnea due to increased inflammation in the airway.
Nasal Congestion: Chronic nasal congestion can make breathing difficult, raising the risk of sleep apnea.
Neck Circumference: A thicker neck may indicate a narrower airway, contributing to obstructive sleep apnea.
Hormones: Conditions like pregnancy or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can elevate the risk of sleep apnea.

How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

To obtain a sleep apnea diagnosis, you’ll likely experience the following:

Physical Examination: Our team will examine your mouth, throat, and neck to identify any anatomical factors, such as enlarged tonsils, that may contribute to sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is suspected, we’ll refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation.
Sleep Study: A polysomnography test, typically conducted overnight in a sleep lab or at home with portable monitoring devices, tracks your sleep patterns, brain activity, heart rate, and oxygen levels.
Diagnosis: After analyzing the sleep study results, the sleep specialist will determine if you have sleep apnea. If diagnosed, you’ll return to our Wilmington or Seaford dental office to discuss a personalized treatment plan.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

There are various types of sleep apnea treatments available. We’ll go over your options and discuss which will be best suited to treat sleep apnea and meet your needs.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy

CPAP is a widely used treatment for moderate-to-severe sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over the nose or mouth during sleep, which delivers a constant stream of pressurized air, keeping the airway open.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Custom-fitted oral appliances, similar to mouthguards, can be prescribed to reposition the jaw and tongue, preventing airway obstruction during sleep. At Brown and Baran Family Dentistry, we provide oral appliances for patients with sleep apnea.

Lifestyle Modifications

Certain lifestyle changes can help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. These may include maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and sleeping on your side rather than your back.

Mouth and Throat Exercises

Mouth and throat exercises can be a useful complement to other treatments for mild cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These exercises strengthen the muscles in the mouth and throat, potentially reducing the severity of sleep apnea symptoms. However, these exercises may not be a standalone solution for moderate-to-severe OSA.

Surgical Interventions

In some cases, surgical options may be considered to address anatomical issues contributing to sleep apnea. These include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), genioglossus advancement, or mandibular advancement surgery.

lady sleeping soundly on her side

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, sleep apnea can often go undiagnosed, as its symptoms may be mistaken for other conditions or dismissed as mere snoring. Many people may attribute their daytime fatigue, low energy, or morning headaches to non-sleep-related factors. Getting a professional evaluation is crucial to avoid the risks associated with untreated sleep apnea.

Yes, sleep apnea can affect individuals of all ages, including children. Pediatric sleep apnea is often caused by anatomical factors like enlarged tonsils or adenoids, obstructing the airway during sleep. Children with sleep apnea may show symptoms such as snoring, restless sleep, bedwetting, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

While lifestyle changes can help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms, professional treatment is usually necessary for effective management. Healthy habits like maintaining an ideal weight, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and practicing good sleep hygiene can positively impact sleep quality.

Your medical insurance should cover the cost of oral appliance therapy since it’s being used to treat your sleep apnea. Still, we recommend that you contact your insurance company anyway to get a better understanding of your coverage and benefits. That way, your treatment will be more affordable and accessible, allowing you to get a peaceful, worry-free sleep.

Break Free from Sleep Apnea

Take control of your sleep and reclaim the restful nights you deserve by treating sleep apnea. It’s time to seek professional help and discover effective treatment options that make a significant difference. Contact our dental team today at our Wilmington office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford office at (302) 536-7589 to schedule an appointment.

Together, we can address your sleep apnea concerns, provide personalized care, and guide you toward a healthier, more revitalized life with better sleep. We proudly serve new and returning patients throughout Delaware and its surrounding areas.