An Affordable Sleep Apnea Solution from Coshocton Dentistry

We have partnered with our medical colleagues and are now helping our patients with treatment options for better sleep and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

We are learning more about this disease and it is now, according to the American Academy of Sleep,  obstructive sleep apnea is a reduction of 90% airflow for at least 10 seconds.  Imagine that your body is trying to breathe for 10seconds but can’t.  We know that our body has to wake up to start breathing again.  People with OSA typically have these events 15 times an hour or more.  

Imagine waking up 15 times and hour where you can't breathe.  Obviously, it's not normal to go without sleep and wake up choking.  This is a very dangerous disease.  This breaking of the sleep pattern can cause extreme fatigue.  This can be very deceiving.  Often times, we don’t remember these events.  Our bodies however over time respond with secondary health problems, like high blood pressure that’s uncontrolled, Type II diabetes, arrhythmias, obesity, and extreme drowsiness.

As your dentist, we can see clinical signs in your mouth that could be codiagnostic. Scalloped enlarged tongue and tonsils, elongated uvula can be signs that your dentist might identify before your physician.
We have training to help these people to find the resources they need and hopefully correct these symptoms.

We can partner with the physicians to do a polysomnogram or we may be able to do a home sleep test from our office to allow a sleep physician to diagnose if this is a concern for you.

What are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?

• Snoring
• Gasping
• Morning headaches
• Sleep Bruxism
• Depression
• Morning irritability
• Gout
• Excessive sleepiness

What are the Solutions to Sleep Apnea?

At Coshocton Dentistry, we offer oral appliances that allow you to have more airflow while breathing. For patients who have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, this option is equal to C-Pap that a lot of people are challenged with.  C-Pap units are oftentimes bulky and uncomfortable with compliance less than 20% after 3 months. Oral appliances are little mouth guards that you wear at night, and they are very comfortable and very affordable and for the mild to moderate cases work equally well.

 We start with a consultation where we talk through your medical history and gather the data necessary to allow you the best treatment in a comfortable environment.

If you or your partner have sleep apnea, contact us at Coshocton Dentistry today. We offer consultation to see if our oral appliances can help you achieve a better night sleep without having to be uncomfortable!