Struggling to Get Quality Sleep? We’re Here to Help!
Quality sleep is crucial for your overall well-being. It not only keeps you physically and mentally healthy but also ensures you can stay focused during the day and avoid potential health issues. Many people face sleep problems, with over 50 million adults in the US dealing with conditions like sleep apnea. At Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, Drs. Paul E. Brown and Christopher S. Baran offer oral appliance therapy to enhance your sleep and improve your daily life.
To address sleep apnea, it’s essential to understand its symptoms. Call our Wilmington office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford office at (302) 536-7589 to discover how Drs. Brown and Baran can assist residents in Pike Creek, Marshallton, and Stanton areas on the journey to better sleep.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
When the muscles in your throat relax excessively during sleep, it may signal obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This condition leads to a blockage that interrupts your breathing, causing you to wake up at night, gasping for air.
If left untreated, sleep apnea can have negative effects on your body and mind. Unfortunately, many individuals experiencing sleep difficulties may not realize they have OSA. That’s why taking the initial step of scheduling an appointment with our experienced dentists is crucial to getting the right treatment.
Causes of Sleep Apnea
There are a variety of factors that can impact your chance of developing sleep apnea. Drs. Brown and Baran will have you undergo a sleep study to determine the exact cause of your sleep apnea for treatment. Some common causes include:
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Obesity and excessive weight
- Large neck circumference
- Medical conditions
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause several physical and mental issues. Knowing the symptoms of the disorder is the first step to receiving the treatment you need to achieve a night of restful sleep. Common risks associated with sleep apnea include:
- Hypertension
- Lack of motivation
- Daytime drowsiness
- Decreased libido
- Heart disease
- Anxiety
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Many people believe that the only solution for sleep apnea involves using cumbersome and noisy CPAP machines, which force oxygen into the airway through a mask. Fortunately, at Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, our Delaware dentists offer an alternative to CPAP — oral appliance therapy.
These custom-made mouthguards effectively address sleep apnea by gently repositioning your jaw forward to prevent airway collapse. Unlike CPAP, oral appliances are non-intrusive and operate silently, providing a more comfortable and quiet solution.
Additional Sleep Apnea Solutions
Making certain lifestyle changes along with professional treatment can provide the best results for reducing the severity of your sleep apnea symptoms. These can include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Participating in regular exercises
- Reducing alcohol and tobacco intake
- Practicing throat and mouth exercises
- Positional therapy or special pillows
Benefits of Treating Sleep Apnea
Treating sleep apnea provides many advantages to you, including:
- Improved Quality of Sleep: Effective treatment for sleep apnea leads to more restful and uninterrupted sleep. By addressing the underlying causes, individuals experience improved sleep quality, enhancing overall well-being and daily functioning.
- Enhanced Daytime Alertness: Treating sleep apnea helps combat daytime sleepiness and fatigue. Better sleep contributes to increased alertness during waking hours, promoting better concentration, productivity, and overall cognitive function.
- Reduced Health Risks: Managing sleep apnea can help reduce the risk of associated health complications, such as cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Treating the condition contributes to better overall cardiovascular and metabolic health.
- Enhanced Mood and Mental Health: Quality sleep is closely linked to emotional well-being. Addressing sleep apnea can lead to improvements in mood, reducing the likelihood of irritability, anxiety, and depression associated with chronic sleep disturbances.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reclaim Your Sleep With Our Oral Appliances
Not getting the sleep you need can cause your body and mind to go haywire. That’s why it’s important to seek effective sleep apnea treatment so that you can recharge throughout the night. At Brown & Baran Family Dentistry, our team will work with you and your unique needs to develop the treatment you need with custom-made, non-intrusive oral appliances.
Achieve the restful sleep you deserve today! Schedule a consultation today by calling our Wilmington office at (302) 999-3100 or our Seaford office at (302) 536-7589. You can also fill out our convenient contact form below. We also proudly serve patients who reside in the Pike Creek, Marshallton, and Stanton areas.
