If you have trouble sleeping, or experience daytime drowsiness regularly despite feeling like you rested the night before, you could be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Fortunately, we can perform a diagnosis to see if you need treatment, and your diagnosis doesn’t rely on trying to rest in an uncomfortable lab setting. Instead, we offer our Olathe, KS, patients access to a convenient home sleep study.
The Home Sleep Study
The small device will sit at your beside and record interruptions in your sleep, as well as blood-oxygen levels, snoring, and apneic episodes. When you return to the office with the device, we will assess the results, which provide a very accurate picture of your natural sleep habits. We can then make a precise and accurate diagnosis, identifying the presence of sleep apnea and then offering the most effective treatment options to help you rest easier. The process is convenient, comfortable, and helps our patients start their journey to a better night’s rest.
The Dangers (And Symptoms) of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea means that at night the soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat become too relaxed. They collapse as a result, blocking airflow. People stop breathing for a few moments until the brain registers the lack of oxygen and wakes them. Sometimes people gasp for air or wake up choking, but often these episodes go unnoticed, even though they happen hundreds of time per night for some sufferers. Warning signs may include snoring, choking or struggling to breathe during the night, headaches, dry mouth, moodiness, daytime exhaustion, and difficulty staying focused on tasks at work or school. Without treatment, the issue could strain your immune system and cause you to become sick frequently. The strain on your cardiovascular system could eventually lead to a higher risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.
Improving Your Sleep Habits
If the home sleep study reveals you need treatment, we may take detailed impressions and measurements of your smile. We use this information to design and create a custom-made oral appliance. The device is worn at night and fits like a mouthguard. However, the device is more than a mouthguard and actually moves the jaw forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues, helping people avoid apneic episodes. If you have any questions about treating sleep issues, then contact our team today.
Do You Want to Try a Sleep Study?
We can diagnose your snoring and sleep troubles from the comfort of your own home. For more information on our convenient diagnostic system, or to schedule a dental consultation, call E-Care Dentistry, PA in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, and all surrounding communities.