Snoring and Sleep Apnea in Los Alamitos, CA

 Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that causes an individual to periodically stop breathing while they are asleep. Sleep apnea can potentially be a very serious condition, often related to cardiovasular disease, diabetes, respiratory issues, mental issues, weight issues, and other problems! People with untreated moderate to severe sleep apnea have an 80% higher chance of dying from a night-time heart attack or stroke.  Sleep apnea can occur when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep, preventing the body from getting the necessary oxygen. When oxygen is temporarily cut off from the brain, the results can end up being serious.  Snoring, grinding, waking up gasping, and waking up unrested, are all common signs and symptoms, snoring being the most common. However, to be properly diagnosed our trained Dentists will review your risks and guide you to have a sleep study done if necessary or requested. We have options for a sleep study unit to be conveniently sent to your house, or for you to go to a sleep center. 

When sleep apnea is diagnosed and treated, it can truly change a person's life. Not only will they likely wake up much more refreshed with more mental clarity, their overall health will be greatly improved. As you can imagine, the body works much better when it gets the oxygen it needs! Most people with sleep apnea don't even know they have it, and they think it's normal to wake up groggy, still tired, to snore, to have poor memory or find it difficult to lose weight. But many of our patients we've treated will tell you how life-changing it really can be. 

Patients will have an individual consult to determine the appropriate treatment method with one of our Sleep Apnea dentists. If you haven't had a sleep study yet, then we will help set that up for you. If you are diagnosed with severe Sleep Apnea, we will almost always recommend a CPAP or APAP first. For those that cannot tolerate or don't want to wear a CPAP anymore, then we recommend an oral appliance. We will take molds of your mouth and jaw movement to have an oral appliance made that will help open the airway during sleep by keeping the lower jaw gently protruded forward. There are several different types of oral appliances to treat sleep apnea, but most are similar to wearing an upper and lower nightguard designed to temporarily move the jaw forward. We will help guide you to the best device for you. You can expect to have the oral appliance completed several weeks after the impressions appointment. After that, hopefully you will feel like a new, healthier, and better version of yourself!

Once a customized Sleep Apnea appliance is made, the patient should be sure to wear it every night, and follow any instructions our Sleep Apnea Dentist provides. The patient will also need to come in for follow-up visits to ensure it is working properly and to make any adjustments necessary. It is also ideal to get a sleep study after the appliance has been comfortably used consistently to determine the effectiveness.  Regular cleaning of the appliance is also important, as bacteria and particles can get stuck in them over time. Patients can clean them with a simple tooth brush and paste between uses, or a variety of cleaning tablets.

We invite anyone who is suffering from sleep apnea or snoring to schedule a consultation at our Los Alamitos, CA office today. A good night's rest is highly important and can be easily restored by sleep apnea treatment, making you more emotionally stable and healthier.