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Sleep Apnea

Prosthodontic and Cosmetic Dentist & Implant Dentistry located in Pasadena, CA
Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea services offered in Pasadena, CA

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder many people don’t even know they have. If you’re frequently waking at night because you stop breathing, visit Dental Studio of Pasadena in Pasadena, California, for a sleep apnea evaluation. Their experts offer at-home sleep studies to confirm your diagnosis and effective sleep apnea treatments. Call Dental Studio of Pasadena or book an appointment online today to prevent sleep apnea from ruining your quality of life.

Sleep Apnea Q&A

What is sleep apnea?

If you have sleep apnea, your breathing frequently stops for short periods throughout the night. There are two kinds of sleep apnea:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

OSA happens because the soft tissues in the back of your mouth relax too much when you sleep. They drop down and cover your airway, so you can’t draw in air. Your brain briefly wakes you, so you start breathing. But when you fall asleep, the same thing happens again.

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea is a far less common condition. It’s a neurological problem where your brain doesn’t send the right signals to the muscles controlling your breathing.

Dental Studio of Pasadena specializes in treating OSA.

What symptoms does sleep apnea cause?

Because you’re asleep when you stop breathing and wake only briefly, you’re unlikely to remember the disturbances in the night. Therefore, you probably aren’t aware you have sleep apnea. Many people don’t realize they have a problem unless their partner notices they stop breathing over and over again at night.

You might notice other signs of sleep apnea, including:

  • Loud, frequent snoring
  • Morning headaches
  • Waking up with a dry mouth
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Irritability
  • Problems concentrating

Sometimes sleep apnea causes you to snort or choke a little and wake up more fully.

Untreated sleep apnea can affect work performance and study. There’s a chance you might fall asleep when driving, leading to an accident. Sleep apnea also increases your risk of problems like high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

Why would I get sleep apnea?

Anyone can get OSA, but you’re more likely to develop it if you have any of these common risk factors:

  • Excess body weight
  • Nasal congestion
  • Older age
  • Family history of sleep apnea
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Sedative use

The Dental Studio of Pasadena sleep apnea experts diagnose your condition after discussing your symptoms and medical history and completing a physical exam. They might ask you to do a home sleep study overnight, using a monitor that measures your blood oxygen levels.

Lower than normal oxygen levels confirm that sleep apnea is affecting your health.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Sleep apnea treatments include:

  • Losing weight
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Avoiding sleeping pills and alcohol
  • Sleeping on your side or stomach
  • Quitting smoking
  • Myofunctional therapy (facial exercises)
  • Wearing oral appliances at night to reposition your jaw
  • Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing devices
  • CO2 laser treatment

Some people will require oral surgery for severe sleep apnea when nothing else works.

Call Dental Studio of Pasadena or book an appointment online today for expert sleep apnea treatment.