Sleep Apnea and Snoring Treatment
Snoring and gasping during the night are more than annoyances, and they may be symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. When the airway is blocked, causing interruptions in breathing while sleeping, this is called sleep apnea. There are serious, even fatal, health risks that accompany sleep apnea. For those who live in Cumberland or Windy Hill and snore or have troubling sleeping, Dr. Wayne Suway offers accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of sleep apnea.
Any time breathing is interrupted for 10 seconds or more, multiple times throughout the night, it is usually a form of sleep apnea. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive, or a blockage of the airway. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is estimated to affect over 20 million people in the U.S. and can pose a serious health risk. Anyone who snores or believes they may have OSA should seek testing and receive treatment if they are diagnosed.
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
Snoring is the main symptom that can indicate sleep apnea. However, up to 50% of adults snore, and not all of them have OSA. Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, as the symptoms may not be obvious, unless you understand what to look for and how they are related. Some sleep apnea symptoms that can accompany snoring include:
- Gasping for air while sleeping
- Headaches in the morning
- Feeling tired and fatigued, even after a full night of rest
- Gastric reflux
- Sexual dysfunction
- Concentration and memory issues
These symptoms can be frustrating, but they are only the tip of the iceberg of health issues. Sleep apnea causes stress on the body that can lead to serious health risks. Those with OSA are at higher risk for hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cardiac death. OSA sufferers can have a fatal episode, usually while sleeping, even at a young age.
How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Dr. Suway has decades of experience as a master dentist and intricate knowledge of the signs of obstructive sleep apnea. To construct a diagnosis for this serious condition, he performs a thorough oral exam and completes a diagnostic questionnaire based on the patient’s symptoms and medical history. If sleep apnea is a possibility, Dr. Suway usually recommends performing at at-home sleep monitoring test. He provides a sleep study unit for the patient to record breathing and sleeping patterns. If sleep apnea is indicated, he creates a treatment plan to improve nocturnal breathing to reduce the health risks of sleep apnea.
One effective treatment option for OSA is using an intraoral device called a dorsal appliance. This is a mouthpiece that is customized to fit the patient, reducing restrictions on the airway to restore normal breathing and sleeping patterns. The device is comfortable, and patients can still speak and open their mouth normally. Wearing the device eliminates snoring and minimizes risks of oxygen deprivation during sleeping to protect the health of patients with OSA.
Protect Your Health with OSA Treatment
Dr. Suway has extensive experience treating oral conditions that require advanced dentistry options, including obstructive sleep apnea. His 30+ years in dentistry and distinction as a master dentist make him one of the top dentists in the Atlanta area. If you suffer from OSA or other serious oral health conditions, Dr. Suway’s experience and advanced methods of treatment can help protect your health and give you relief from your symptoms.
We welcome patients from throughout the greater Atlanta area, including residents from the Cumberland and Windy Hill area. If you snore or believe you may suffer from sleep apnea, schedule an appointment for a diagnostic exam with Dr. Wayne Suway. We accept many forms of dental insurance and various payment options for your convenience.
