Many
people don’t know that sleep apnea is something that can be treated by your dentist.
One major symptom of possibly having sleep apnea is snoring. If you
are experiencing this sign of sleep apnea, then it would be worth mentioning it
to your dentist. This is because they will be able to provide you with the
proper mouth gear or treatment plan that is most appropriate to help treat your
sleep apnea symptoms.
Symptoms
of Sleep Apnea
Sometimes sleep apnea can be hard
to diagnosis mainly because the symptoms of sleep apnea often mirror the
symptoms of other health conditions. However, sleep apnea should not be ignored
because it is a serious health condition. Therefore, please review these
symptoms of sleep apnea:
Symptoms
to look for include:
·
Snoring
·
Pain in neck, back and/or jaw
·
Sleeplessness
·
Fatigue
·
Trouble focusing
·
Irritability
·
Headaches
After
reviewing the above symptoms of sleep apnea it’s important to note that if they
are ignored this could lead to more serious health problems developing. Sleep
and rest is vitally important and if you are suffering from a lack of sleep and
discomfort this can start to affect overall mood and your quality of life.
Examination
for Sleep Apnea
Providing quality dental care does not stop at general dentistry because
it can extend to sleep apnea treatment. To get an accurate diagnosis of sleep
apnea a patient would need to make an appointment with their dentist.
Doing so will give them the opportunity to have a full examination.
Treatment
Plan for Sleep Apnea
If the results of your examination determine that you do have sleep apnea then
a treatment plan will be developed. Please review any of the possible
treatment plans that your dentist may recommend for you:
·
Snore guards
·
Special massages and exercises
for the jaw
·
Surgery
·
TMJ treatment
·
Sleep apnea treatment device
While
sleep apnea never goes away it can be controlled with the proper customized
treatment. Doing so helps decrease the severity of the symptoms and will make
sleep more enjoyable for the dental patient.
Schedule
A Consultation
If
you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea please don’t hesitate to contact
your dentist to set up a consultation. A diagnosis will lead to treatment
and treatment will lead to a better sleep and rest.