Sleep Apnea Treatment – Harlingen, TX
Stop Snoring and Wake Up Feeling Refreshed
Sleep apnea is the second most prominent sleep disorder in the United States, with about 20 million Americans suffering from the disorder every single night. Not only can it cause loud snoring that keeps your loved ones awake at night, but it can also prevent you from getting the rest you need to operate at your best during the day. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea or think you might be suffering from a sleep disorder, call Dr. Guillen to schedule a consultation and start working on a solution.
Why Choose Compassion Dental of Harlingen for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- Dentist That Always Sees You Promptly on Time
- Practice That Guarantees Patient Satisfaction
- Customized Treatment Plans for Sleep Apnea Patients
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea causes interruptions in your breathing for brief periods of time while you’re asleep. The lack of air forces the body to partially wake up for oxygen, pulling you out of the sleep cycle. These awakenings can occur quite frequently – sometimes as often as 100 times in an hour! This means you won’t be getting enough of the deep, restful sleep that you need, and you’ll get up in the morning feeling exhausted.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can be divided into two distinct categories: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when soft tissues in your mouth and/or throat relax and block the airway, cutting off the flow of oxygen. (This is what leads to snoring.) Central sleep apnea is a neurological issue; simply put, the brain fails to give the body the signals it needs to keep breathing. On rare occasions, a person might suffer from both types of sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Loud, chronic snoring is the most obvious sign of sleep apnea, but there are other common symptoms as well that can serve as a warning for a sleep disorder, including:
- Gasping for air or waking up feeling out of breath
- Frequently suffering from headaches in the mornings
- Experiencing a severely sore throat or dry mouth when waking up
- Feeling exhausted no matter how long you slept
- Mood swings and changes in your overall behavior
- High blood pressure
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Once sleep apnea has been properly diagnosed by a sleep expert, you can start considering potential forms of treatment. CPAP therapy is usually prescribed for obstructive sleep apnea, but while it’s effective, many find it uncomfortable, and it can be hard to fall asleep with the noise of the machine. Depending on the cause and severity of your sleep apnea, we may be able to help you find a more comfortable solution in the form of oral appliance therapy.
Oral Appliance Therapy
An oral appliance is used to hold the jaw in a new position so that the tissues in your mouth and throat don’t fall back on the airway. This is normally done by shifting the jaw forward. Not only are oral appliances custom-fitted for maximum comfort, but they’re also much more convenient than bulky CPAP machines when it comes to traveling. Patients who find it difficult to stick to CPAP therapy find that oral appliances can make a significant difference in improving the quality of their sleep.
Read Dr. Guillen’s Book
Dr. Guillen is an expert in using various oral appliances to help patients overcome sleep apnea and stop their snoring. He is a proud member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and he has extensively studied sleep apnea and its impact on overall health. His latest book, Snore No More, is an essential guide for those who snore or suffer from Sleep Apnea