Sleep Apnea Treatment in Saint George, Utah

Are you satisfied with the quality of sleep you get every night? Sleep disorders could be lurking around, staying completely undetected, and affecting your sleep negatively. One such sleep disorder is sleep apnea – an invasive condition that affects your breathing while asleep. Getting it treated in the early stages is crucial, which otherwise could worsen it significantly.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by blockages in the airway, which keep you from inhaling as usual while you’re asleep. This condition is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Another form of sleep apnea is caused due to the unexpected malfunction of the brain, which fails to signal the lungs to inhale air on time. It is called Central Sleep Apnea (CSA). In very rare cases, both these conditions will be combined, resulting in Mixed Sleep Apnea.

What are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

• Poor quality of sleep.
• Inability to enter the deep stages of sleep.
• Inadequate supply of oxygen to the lungs and other organs of the body.
• Bruxism.
• Frequent and short pauses in breathing.
• Sore throat and numbness in the throat tissues.
• Grinding the teeth, which leads to TMJ disorder.
• Dozing off during daytime.
• Frequent headaches.
• Reduced tolerance levels.
• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Reduced sex drive.

How is Sleep Apnea Treated?

When you visit Hallmark Dental Group, we will recommend that you see a sleep specialist to diagnose your sleep disorder. They will conduct a sleep test, during which your vitals, eye movement, body movement and breathing pattern will be observed and examined closely. Based on the observations, we will determine the severity of your condition. There are a few effective means of treating sleep apnea, such as the following:

CPAP: A CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure is a device used to maintain a positive pressure in the airways while you sleep. It consists of a pressurized oxygen cylinder connected to a face mask which you have to put on before going to sleep. The continuous supply of oxygen keeps the roof of the throat from collapsing, thereby keeping the airway open at all times.

Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD): MAD is an oral appliance made from dental-grade plastic material. The dentist will place the appliance in position. MAD brings the lower jaw forward and expands the opening to the airway, thus keeping the flow of air into the lungs continuous. It also keeps the roof of the throat from collapsing.

Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea can make a few subtle changes to their daily routine to get relief from it. Some of them are:

• Eating healthy foods, which includes a lot of fruits and veggies.
• Avoiding smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol.
• Losing weight.
• Adhering to simple sleeping positions.
• Breathing exercises.
• Meditation.

Schedule A Consultation

We request you to schedule a consultation with our experienced dentists, Dr. Phillip Hall or Dr. James Phillips, to learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Saint George, Utah, and address all your oral concerns as early as possible. Please call us at 435-634-8338 or reach out through online consultation, and we’ll be happy to help.