Rest Peacefully With Sleep Apnea Treatment

Eliminate Snoring And Protect Your Overall Health, Too

If you’re struggling with snoring and you’re not getting restful sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Nearly 30 million people in the United States have sleep apnea, and the majority of people who have this sleep disorder have never been diagnosed.

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At Opal Dental Studio, Dr. Abigail Gonzales is here to help. As a biological dentist, she focuses on the connection between your oral health and whole-body health, and has extensive training in Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) for sleep apnea, which is an effective alternative to traditional CPAP machines.

Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA for short, is the most common form of sleep apnea. In this condition, the soft tissues in your throat and mouth relax during sleep, sagging into your airway and temporarily blocking proper respiration. Breathing is interrupted for at least 10 seconds, and this can happen dozens or hundreds of times per night.

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In the short term, untreated OSA leads to symptoms like deep snoring, trouble falling and staying asleep, and poor overall sleep quality. And in the long term, these interruptions in breathing put increased strain on your cardiovascular system, which may lead to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Recognizing The Signs Of Sleep Apnea

Every patient is different, so you may not recognize all of the following symptoms. But if you recognize several of them, it’s a good idea to speak to your physician and set up a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea:

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• Heavy snoring with periodic breathing interruptions
• Waking up with a choking or gasping feeling
• Difficulty falling and staying asleep
• Sore and/or dry throat when you wake up
• Feeling poorly-rested, even after 7-8 hours of sleep
• Daytime drowsiness, especially when driving
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood swings and irritability
• Reduction in libido (sex drive)

Airway Diagnostics For Sleep Apnea

If you think that you have obstructive sleep apnea in Huntersville, NC, Dr. Abigail Gonzales is here to help. At Opal Dental Studio, we offer comprehensive airway diagnostics to help diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, including:

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• Comprehensive health screening and diagnosis – First, you’ll meet with Dr. Gonzales to discuss your symptoms and get a comprehensive health assessment. This may include discussions about your sleep, personal habits including tobacco and alcohol use, stress, and more. This helps Dr. Gonzales dive more deeply into the potential causes of your sleep apnea.
• Bite and jaw position analysis – The position of your jaw and the development of your bite are significant factors in OSA. For example, if you have a narrow palate, you may be more prone to developing OSA, because it will be easier for tissue to sag and block your airway during sleep. Dr. Gonzales can assess your bite and determine if it’s affecting your OSA risk. She may even recommend orthodontic treatment like clear aligners to help reduce OSA symptoms.
  
  
• Sleep studies – Depending on the situation, Dr. Gonzales may also need to refer you to a sleep specialist to get a sleep test. This may be done at home or in a lab environment. The sleep specialist will observe your sleeping patterns and gather data about your sleep to diagnose sleep apnea and understand its severity.  

The Benefits Of Treating Sleep Apnea

Enjoy higher quality sleep

With sleep apnea treatment, you can eliminate breathing interruptions and enjoy higher quality sleep every night. This improves almost every aspect of your health. Restful sleep helps you feel more energized, think more clearly, enhances your athletic performance, and has tons of other benefits, too.

Protect your overall health

By eliminating the strain of sleep apnea on your cardiovascular system, you can protect your overall health, too. Sleep apnea treatment can help reduce blood pressure, lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke, and helps your lungs and heart function more efficiently overall.

Eliminate snoring

Treating sleep apnea will typically eliminate or dramatically reduce episodes of snoring, too. If you sleep with a partner, this can be a very valuable benefit. Both you and your sleeping partner will enjoy higher-quality sleep, with fewer interruptions due to loud snoring.

Contact Us Now For Sleep Apnea Treatment In Huntersville, NC

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea in Huntersville, NC and you’re interested in exploring alternatives to CPAP and other traditional treatment options, Dr. Abigail Gonzales is here for you. 

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As an expert in oral appliance therapy, Dr. Gonzales can help you eliminate the symptoms of sleep apnea, protect your overall health, and snooze soundly once again. So don’t wait, and don’t let untreated sleep apnea put your health and well-being at risk. Give us a call at (704) 254-9118 or book your first visit online to explore your options for CPAP-free sleep apnea treatment.