Breathe Easy with Our Sleep Disordered Breathing Solutions
Specialized Treatment
Our practice is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and expertise to accurately assess and diagnose various sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. We work closely with sleep physicians to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs, which may include oral appliance therapy or other interventions to optimize your sleep health.
Customized Therapy
We specialize in providing customized oral appliance therapy as a comfortable and effective treatment option for sleep disordered breathing. These FDA-approved devices are designed to reposition the jaw and keep the airway open during sleep, reducing the frequency and severity of breathing disruptions and improving overall sleep quality for our patients.
Multidisciplinary Approach
At Vlass & Merritt Dental Care, we believe in a multidisciplinary approach to sleep wellness, collaborating with sleep physicians, pulmonologists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care for our patients. Our team is committed to addressing not only the symptoms but also the underlying causes of sleep disordered breathing, empowering you to achieve lasting improvements in your sleep health.
Discover Relief from Sleep Disordered Breathing
At Vlass & Merritt Dental Care, we recognize the importance of quality sleep for overall health and well-being. Our comprehensive approach to sleep disordered breathing addresses underlying issues such as sleep apnea, snoring, and related conditions, helping you achieve restful sleep and improved quality of life.
Sleep Disordered Breathing FAQ's
Sleep-disordered breathing refers to a spectrum of breathing abnormalities that occur during sleep, ranging from mild snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is the most common form of SDB and involves repeated partial or complete blockage of the upper airway during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing and disrupted sleep patterns.
Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing may include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, daytime sleepiness or fatigue, morning headaches, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and observed episodes of breathing cessation witnessed by a bed partner. Individuals with OSA may also experience nocturnal symptoms such as frequent awakenings, restless sleep, or night sweats.
Risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing include obesity, age (particularly middle-aged and older adults), male gender, family history of sleep apnea, anatomical factors such as narrow airways or enlarged tonsils, smoking, alcohol consumption, nasal congestion, and certain medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease.
Diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing typically involves a comprehensive evaluation by a sleep specialist, including a detailed medical history, physical examination, and sleep study (polysomnography). During a sleep study, various parameters such as breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep stages are monitored to assess the presence and severity of breathing abnormalities.
Untreated sleep-disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea, can have serious health consequences. It is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and motor vehicle accidents due to daytime sleepiness. Chronic sleep deprivation and disrupted sleep patterns can also affect overall quality of life and well-being.
