Do I Have Sleep Apnea?

How your dentist in Leesburg, VA, can treat sleep apnea

The effects of sleep apnea can sneak up on you. Unless you have someone who tells you about the loud snoring and waking up suddenly, there is a good chance you might not even know you have it. The only trouble is, sleep apnea can cause damage to your vital organs, and it can shorten your life. Your dentist can help you get relief from sleep apnea.

Dr. Tammy Knapp Helsey of South Gate Dental in Leesburg, VA, offers comprehensive dental care services, including treatment for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is caused by the tissue at the back of your throat relaxing periodically while you are sleeping. When the tissue relaxes, it can partially or totally block your airway, causing inadequate oxygen to reach your vital organs, including your brain and heart. In fact, sleep apnea can increase your risk of:

• A stroke
• Heart disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
  
  

So, how do you know if you have sleep apnea? You may experience:

• Frequent episodes of loud snoring
• Waking up suddenly with a gasping or choking sensation
• Having a sore throat or headache in the morning
• Daytime grogginess and difficulty concentrating
  
  

Sleep apnea can be treated with a Continuous Positive Air Pressure machine, also known as a CPAP. The CPAP has a facepiece connected to a hose and a machine that supplies continuous airflow, but the CPAP has issues that some people find difficult to deal with, including:

• It can feel restrictive and claustrophobic
• It can be difficult to clean
• It can cause sinus infections due to bacterial contamination
• It is not very portable
  
  

There is another, much easier way to treat sleep apnea, and it comes from your dentist! It’s called an Oral Mandibular Advancement Appliance, and it works by keeping your lower jaw forward while you sleep, creating a continuously open airway.

The oral appliance offers these important benefits:

• It’s more comfortable
• It’s small, so it can easily fit in your pocket
• It’s easy to clean, by simple soaking
  
  

You deserve to sleep well at night and not be troubled by sleep apnea. The Oral Mandibular Advancement Appliance can help. To find out more about sleep apnea symptoms and how oral appliance treatment can help, call Dr. Tammy Knapp Helsey of South Gate Dental in Leesburg, VA, at (703) 777-3150. Call today!