Sleep Apnea Therapy – San Antonio, TX

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which the patient stops breathing for ten seconds or longer during sleep. Most people experience some apnea events during sleep, but patients with sleep apnea can experience breathing cessation hundreds or even thousands of times each night. Mild apnea events may last for just a few seconds, but in some cases, patients can stop breathing for a minute or longer.

There are two types of this common sleep disorder. The rarer form is known as central sleep apnea, and it occurs when the brain fails to trigger the body to breathe in and out during sleep. Unfortunately, this form of sleep apnea usually requires much more advanced treatments from a sleep doctor or surgeon.

Most sleep apnea patients suffer from obstructive sleep apnea that occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep and block the airway. These patients typically also struggle with snoring. If left untreated, both forms of sleep apnea can be potentially life threatening, as sleep apnea can increase the risk for other serious health problems, such as:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Depression
• Impotence
• Severe exhaustion
• Illness and fatigue caused by sleep deprivation

Do I Have Sleep Apnea?

The only way to determine if you’re suffering from sleep apnea is to undergo a professional sleep study. However, it’s important to be aware of the warning signs in order to communicate your sleep apnea concerns to your dentist or doctor. It’s especial important for high risk patients to be aware of sleep apnea symptoms. Patients considered to be at high risk include men, anyone over the age of 50, patients who are considered medically obese, and those who have a family history of sleep apnea. Some warning signs that you may be suffering from sleep apnea include:

• Loud, chronic snoring
• Repeatedly waking gasping or choking at night
• Severe exhaustion even after adequate sleep
• Morning headaches
• Elevated blood pressure
• Mood swings and other unexplained changes in behavior
• Inability to concentrate
• Difficulty keeping track of details and memory loss

How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

If we notice you exhibit many of the warning signs of sleep apnea, we will work with a local sleep clinic or at-home sleep study provider to organize a sleep test. These diagnostic assessments use electronic sensors to monitor your vital signs during sleep. They measure the number and length of apnea events as well as incidences of hypopnea, shallow breathing, or the cessation of breath for less than ten seconds. After the study, the data is collected in a report used to diagnose your sleep disorder.

Why Should I Visit Dr. Holland for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

All dentists have advanced training in oral and facial structures, including the airway. This makes them the ideal providers of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. In addition to having a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Dr. Holland has completed advanced training in dental sleep medicine. Dr. Holland is an active member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). Through the AADSM, Dr. Holland has access to educational resources and tools to help him improve his dental sleep medicine services. He is also able to maximize dental and medical insurance to ensure patients receive affordable sleep apnea therapy.

How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Work?

The traditional treatment prescribed for sleep apnea sufferers is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This involves using a face mask to cover the mouth and nose attached by a hose to an air machine that continuously forces air into the lungs during sleep. Even though CPAP therapy can be effective treatment for patients suffering from central and obstructive sleep apnea, more than 50% of patients cannot adjust to the sounds and sensations of this treatment. These patients are deemed CPAP intolerant, and many of them receive effective treatment using a custom crafted oral appliance from our team.

A custom-made oral appliance from our San Antonio dental office will help you keep your airways open so you can continue to breathe normally and easily through the night while also reducing the volume of snoring. Oral Appliance therapy can be an effective, non-invasive treatment option for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

These custom oral appliances shift the jaw forward. The appliances somewhat resemble a sportsguard, but there are gears that place pressure to move the jaw to a frontward position. This shift in the jaw’s resting position places pressure on the throat muscles, holding the airway open during sleep. If you’ve ever completed training in mouth to mouth resuscitation, you know that tilting the head back and jaw forward to clear the airway is one of the first steps, and oral appliances work in much the same way. When oral appliances are worn each night, the airway remains clear, and patients can sleep soundly and breathe deeply.

Treating snoring or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can help you feel like a new person. You will find that your symptoms and your quality of life improve dramatically when you remain committed to your treatment and use your oral appliance nightly.