With a home sleep test, we can help diagnose your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and find out if you need treatment for this disorder. To do so, we have a convenient option that can be completed at home instead of forcing you to try and rest in a lab setting. In today’s blog, your Olathe, KS, dentists will discuss how we diagnose OSA!
The Warning Signs of OSA
How do you know if you have OSA? The disorder means that the soft tissues in the throat and the back of your mouth become too relaxed and collapse as you sleep. This collapse cuts off airflow, so you stop breathing. The brain wakes you, and you may not remember the happening, but it could occur several times each hour, leaving your sleep deprived even if you feel like you rested the night before. Other warning signs include trouble waking up, difficulties staying awake behind the wheel, problems with waking suddenly in the night gasping for air or choking, chronic snoring, dry mouth, and headaches. You could also have trouble focusing on tasks at work or school.
Diagnosis With a Home Sleep Study
If you encounter one or more of the warning signs we discussed above, then contact our team. To see if you need treatment, then you may benefit from a home sleep study. We will send you home with a special device, one that will sit at your bedside and monitor you as you rest in the comfort of your own bed. The device will measure your blood oxygen levels, breathing cessation, and sleep levels, so we can make a diagnosis with a accuracy and precision. You don’t have to rest in a lab setting at all! Our team will be able to find out if you need treatment to help you rest easier.
What Happens Following Your Diagnosis?
You will then need treatment. Instead of a CPAP machine, our team will use an oral appliance. The device is small, and fits like a mouthguard. Worn as you rest, the device actually moves the jaw forward to keep airways open so you breathe without difficulty or obstruction throughout the night. To ensure it fits comfortably and offers treatment, the device will be custom-fitted for your smile. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat OSA, then contact our team today.
Ready to Finally Rest With Ease?
We want to help you avoid the short-term and long-term impacts of untreated sleep apnea. For more information on our diagnostic systems and treatment options for sleep disorders, 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.