An often overlooked and untreated condition that more would do well to take seriously is sleep apnea. Apart from simply keeping your partner awake, it can lead to a wide variety of health concerns due to the loss of oxygen during sleep. Our dentist, Dr. Michael Kun, and our team provide sleep apnea treatment in Mertztown, Pennsylvania. If you are looking for a solution to your sleep apnea, please contact Brandywine Dental today at 610-682-6386 to learn more about your options.
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition and can be life-threatening if not treated. This condition is as common as adult diabetes, and it can affect both children and adults. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when your airway becomes blocked. This reduces the amount of oxygen coming into your body and creates toxic health conditions. Those who suffer from sleep apnea not only have difficulty sleeping but also suffer from problems in their overall health, which impact their daily function, work performance, emotional and physical well-being, ability to concentrate, and their relationships. Sleep apnea even affects your ability to digest food, produce necessary hormones and maintain your immune system!
The obstruction in the airway usually occurs when the jaw is underdeveloped and the tongue does not have enough space. This causes the soft tissues of the airway to collapse during sleep and prevent you from breathing normally. With epigenetic science, our dentist can guide jaw growth in younger patients and remodel the jaws to fully develop the jaw bones, preventing the obstruction and helping the airways develop properly. There are a variety of treatments available for sleep apnea, and we will work with you to find the treatment option that will provide you with the best results. Milder forms of sleep apnea can often be successfully treated with an oral appliance while more severe forms of this condition may require surgical treatment.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Insomnia (difficulty staying asleep)
- Hypersomnia (extreme daytime drowsiness)
- Snoring
- A very dry or sore throat upon waking
- Waking frequently during the night
- Frequent pauses or interruptions in breathing while asleep
- Frequent morning headaches
For more information about obstructive sleep apnea and to set up a consultation with our caring dentist, please call our office today.
