Does your wife smack you several times a night because you snore? Are you sleeping in a different room from your spouse? Do you snore or are you tired every day? Does your wife smack you several times a night because you snore?
Restless nights, exhausting days. This is what most obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) sufferers deal with continually. Left unchecked, OSA can have an huge negative effect on you, your health, and those close to you. Fortunately, Dr. Nugent is experienced with sleep apnea treatment, and he can help you lessen the devastating disease.
Most people do not think that a dentist would be involved with sleep apnea treatment. However, a dentist trained in sleep medicine is in a very good position to do so. Problems with the facial structures, tongue, jaw movement, and airways can be easily detected by Dr. Nugent
Importance of Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Difficulties from sleep apnea can include inattentiveness at work, morning headaches, tiredness, risk of accidents, high blood pressure, heart attack, acid reflux, stroke, mood swings, and erectile dysfunction. Sleep apnea can also increase the risk of congestive heart failure and metabolic syndrome. It can lead to difficulty in the treatment processes for conditions such as arterial fibrillation. A Patient suffering from sleep apnea experiences a large deterioration in the quality of life. In fact, severe sleep apnea raises the risk of dying early by 46 percent.
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA
This is the most common type of sleep apnea. It happens when there is an obstruction to the upper airway. This obstruction causes breathing to stop for brief periods of time during the night. Blood saturation levels of Oxygen decrease while levels of Carbon Dioxide rise. The brain eventually signals the body to wake up and clear the obstruction. It’s not uncommon for this to happen hundreds of times in one night. If you sleep alone, you may not even be aware this is happening to you.
Some of the more typical causes of sleep apnea include:
- Too much tissue at the back of the throat
- Tonsils or tongue that are enlarged
- Deviations in the structure of the face or airways
- Muscles too weak to hold the airway open when sleeping
- Obesity
EFFECTS OF SLEEP APNEA
When your body does not get enough oxygen while sleeping, it takes an extreme toll on the whole system. The brain, organs and body are subjected to hours of oxygen starvation. Patients don’t get the restful and rejuvenating effects of sleep.
Mandibular Advancement Device
If you have been diagnosed you with obstructive sleep apnea and the MD has prescribed a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), Dr. Nugent will provide you with a custom-made plastic mouth guard to be worn at night. In many cases, this is very effective and an alternative to a CPAP. The MAD pulls the lower jaw downward and forward opening up the airway.
NO MORE SLEEP APNEA, AND A NEW YOU
It can be a night and day difference when you are now able to sleep through the night, continuously. The next day many patients feel energized and alive. By treating OSA many patients have a completely new lifestyle. Dr. Nugent’s caring manner and deep desire to help his patients is apparent in every treatment he performs.
Come See Us
We welcome the opportunity to help you understand the state of your oral health and what sleep apnea is. Call us today at 832-487-0647 or come visits us at 3421 Burke Rd #1, Pasadena, Texas. We help patients from Deer Park Texas and Pasadena Texas.
