Sleep Apnea Treatment - McKinney, TX
Breathe Better. Sleep Better. Live Better.
Sleep apnea is a widespread and chronically underdiagnosed health problem, leading to a poorer quality of life for countless struggling patients. What many people don’t realize, though, is that the best solution may be to visit a dentist trained in dental sleep medicine. Here at Marble Dental McKinney, Dr. Hegazin strongly recommends personalized oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea sufferers with mild to moderate symptoms, or those who have tried to use a CPAP machine with no long-term success. Call us today to learn more about sleep apnea treatment in McKinney!
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing is regularly interrupted during sleep, leading to frequent awakenings that prevent them from achieving deep rest. The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is specifically caused by a partial or full blockage of the airway.
- Common symptoms of OSA include the following:
- Regular, severe snoring
- Persistent exhaustion and fatigue in the mornings
- Trouble with memory and/or concentration
- A sore throat upon waking
- Morning headaches/migraines
- Constantly using the bathroom throughout the night
- Gasping or snorting during sleep (ask a bed partner or family member if they’ve noticed this)
If you suspect that you may be experiencing sleep apnea, please don’t hesitate to tell your regular physician or visit a sleep specialist. Once you have received a diagnosis of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Hegazin will be ready to help you achieve the quality sleep you deserve.
How Does Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea Work?
Your custom-made oral appliance from Marble Dental McKinney will comfortably reposition your jaw and/or tongue when worn. This will prevent the soft tissue collapse that leads to a blocked airway, reducing or even preventing the nighttime interruptions caused by sleep apnea altogether. The result? Patients will finally be able to wake up feeling well-rested and ready for the day ahead.
If you’d like to explore this option further, please contact Marble Dental McKinney today!
Sleep Apnea FAQs
After reading all of the information above, do you feel like you may need sleep apnea treatment in McKinney? To help you learn more before scheduling an appointment for an examination, we’ve included some of the most common questions we get asked by our patients about sleep apnea treatment below, as well as our answers. If you don’t see the information you need, feel free to call our dental office.
What causes sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is the most common type of sleep apnea that impacts an estimated 9% of Americans. However, many people’s cases are assumed to go undiagnosed. This condition can be the cause of a variety of different factors, including some of the following:
- Fat deposits around the upper airway and neck that could obstruct breathing.
- A naturally narrow airway that doesn’t allow you to easily breathe while sleeping.
- High blood pressure is a common reason some people experience sleep apnea.
- Chronic nasal congestion that can also be a result of a narrow airway.
- People who smoke are more likely to have sleep apnea.
- Diabetes can make it more likely to get sleep apnea.
- Sleep apnea can run in a family.
- Asthma can increase your risk of sleep apnea.
How long does a sleep study take?
From start to finish, sleep studies typically take between nine and 10 hours. If you’re taking one at a sleep center, you’ll spend a short time being walked through the process by a technician before they hook you up to special equipment and monitors that measure your breathing as you sleep. This takes about 45 minutes, and then they’ll need to collect at least six hours of recording time as you rest to make a diagnosis.
Can I take a sleep study at home?
Yes! One of the easiest ways to find out if you have sleep apnea is to request an at-home sleep study. This isn’t an over-the-counter test, so you’ll need to have a discussion with your primary care physician so they can prescribe it. The test will include a small sensor that you place on your finger to measure your oxygen levels, as well as a mask with tubes that you’ll need to place in your nostrils. You’ll also need to place sensors on your chest and abdomen as well. Usually, at-home sleeping tests can be conducted over the course of a single night.
How can sleep apnea impact my health?
Many patients aren’t aware that sleep apnea can have a drastic impact on your health and wellness. Without the proper treatment from your dentist in McKinney, this condition can increase your risk of a variety of other medical problems, including:
- Stroke
- Heart problems
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Acid reflux
- Weakened immune system
- High blood pressure
- Low blood oxygen levels
- Fatigue
- High blood sugar
