Your kids may joke about your snoring, but the truth is it’s no laughing matter. Aside from disrupting a slumbering household, snoring can also be a sign of a sleep-breathing condition, sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night, waking up tired, groggy, and ill-tempered.
Sleep apnea is characterized by lapses in breathing that can occur up to 60 times a night. The airways collapse, preventing oxygen from entering the body. You wake up enough to breathe, though you may not remember the episode. Snoring is a common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, though not all patients who snore have this condition.
Sleep and oxygen deprivation have serious side effects. In addition to causing depression, memory loss, daytime drowsiness, heartburn, and headaches, sleep apnea has been linked to:
At our Houston dental office, we treat sleep apnea with an oral appliance, which is a custom device that resembles a mouthguard. The device repositions the jaw, so the throat remains clear of oral tissues. The oral appliance is worn at night and has been proven effective at alleviating snoring and sleep apnea.
We recommend the Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP), which is the only oral appliance that can be adjusted while in the mouth. Dr. Schleicher works closely with you to ensure the device fits comfortably and works effectively.
You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly, wake up gasping for breath, or feel tired throughout the day. Take this simple test to assess your risk, and then schedule an appointment with Dr. Schleicher for an assessment. He will work closely with Houston sleep labs to accurately diagnose your condition.
Scale: 0, no chance 1, slight chance 2, moderate chance, 3 high chance.
If you score 10 or more on this test, you may not be receiving adequate, restorative sleep at night. Contact Dr. Schleicher at 713-932-0441 or patty@schleicherdental.com for a consultation. Our Houston dental office proudly serves patients in the Montrose, Midtown, Bellaire, Katy, and Galleria neighborhoods. Call today!