Sleep Apnea Therapy – New Braunfels, TX
Stop Snoring,
Start Sleeping Peacefully
When you wake up in the morning, do you feel well rested, or do you struggle with fatigue throughout the day? Even if you’ve had the right quantity of sleep, it doesn’t mean that it was high quality. Luckily, here at Gruene Family Dental, Dr. Turnbow can provide sleep apnea therpay in New Braunfels, TX to ensure that your mind and body can finally achieve the restful sleep you need to feel refreshed every day. Interested in learning more? Keep reading and then contact us to schedule a consultation!
Why Choose Gruene Family Dental for Sleep Apnea Therapy?
- Collaboration with Sleep Physicians for Treatments
- Completely Comfortable, Custom Oral Appliances
- Relaxing, Home-Like Dental Office Atmosphere
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops for a prolonged period while the patient is asleep. In many cases, facial tissues or other obstructions block the airway, creating a loud, chronic snoring noise. When the body experiences a drop in oxygen, the brain sends out a panic signal and wakes the patient up enough to resume breathing. Unfortunately, these gaps in breathing, and therefore these disruptions in sleep, can occur hundreds of times every night.
Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Without adequate sleep, everyday functions become more difficult and more dangerous. In fact, studies indicate that drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. In addition, consistent lapses in breathing cause the heart in particular to experience unnecessary stress with frequent blood pressure spikes. Over time, this stressful state becomes normalized, increasing a patient’s odds of a serious cardiovascular event like a stroke or heart attack.
Excessive Snoring
One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is chronic, loud snoring; however, not all snoring automatically points to sleep apnea. If it is combined with daytime drowsiness, moodiness or depression, and memory loss or the inability to focus, sleep apnea is a very real possibility. That’s why it’s important to undergo a sleep study, which can reveal the cause of your snoring and give you treatment options to reduce this disruptive symptom.
An Alternative to CPAP: Oral Appliance Therapy
Traditionally, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is commonly used to treat sleep apnea, but many patients dislike this treatment because of the loud machine and bulky mask. Here at Gruene Family Dental, we offer another option: oral appliance therapy. Most of the time, these appliances reposition the lower jaw to keep the facial tissues from relaxing to the point of obstructing the airway. As a result, the patient can continue breathing without interruption.
Dream TAP Appliances
In our dental office, we use a customized Dream TAP appliance, which consists of a clear molded piece for the upper and lower teeth joined with a fixed mechanical hinge. Although it pivots the lower jaw forward, it can be adjusted so that it doesn’t create problems with bite alignment or cause jaw pain.
Partnered with Sleep Physicians in Comal & Guadalupe Counties
Dr. Turnbow and our team have your best interests at heart, which means we want the best possible results for you. That’s why we work closely with the best sleep experts in the area to ensure that you’re receiving the most effective treatment available. Once you’ve been through a sleep study and been officially diagnosed with sleep apnea, we can begin to explore your treatment options. Based on your needs, we’ll find the solution that works best for you.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Since sleep apnea occurs at night while you are resting, it can seem a bit mysterious. At Greune Family Dental, we want to help shine a light on this common sleep disorder. That is why we have collected some of the biggest questions about sleep apnea and sleep apnea therapy in New Braunfels and answered them below. From what signs to look out for to how to clean an oral appliance, here is some key information that you should know about sleep apnea.
How Common Is Sleep Apnea?
If you believe you may be affected by sleep apnea, don’t worry – you are not alone! According to the Cleveland Clinic, sleep apnea occurs in over 50 million Americans. People of all ages can experience this common sleep disorder, although it is found much more frequently in men than in women. People with certain physical traits, such as excessive weight around the neck, enlarged tonsils, or a small jaw with an overbite, may also be more likely affected by sleep apnea.
What Are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?
As mentioned above, snoring is one of the most common signs of sleep apnea. However, if you live alone – or if your partner is an excellent sleeper – you may not even realize that you snore at night. That is why it’s important to familiarize yourself with other frequent signs of sleep apnea, such as:
- Waking up snorting or gasping for air
- Waking up multiple times a night to use the bathroom
- Frequent headaches or migraines in the morning
- Dry throat in the morning
- Always feeling tired during the day
- Trouble concentrating or remembering things
- Moodiness or irritability
- Insomnia
- Loss of libido
Are Oral Appliances Comfortable to Wear?
Yes! Oral appliances are custom-made from lightweight material to fit comfortably inside your mouth. Follow up appointments with Dr. Turnbow for any necessary adjustments will also help ensure maximum comfort and effectiveness. Compared to the bulky CPAP mask and machine, custom oral appliances are quiet, portable, and much less invasive.
How Do I Take Care of My Oral Appliance?
Be sure to brush your teeth every night before inserting your oral appliance. Otherwise, harmful bacteria in your mouth may become trapped and spend all night attacking your teeth.
When you wake up each morning, remove your appliance and brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Next, rinse it off with lukewarm water and set it aside to air dry. Do not put your appliance back in its container while still wet – bacteria love dark, damp environments.
Finally, if you want to achieve an extra level of clean, soak your oral appliance once a week in water with a denture cleaner tablet.
Does My Insurance Cover Sleep Apnea Therapy?
Obstructive sleep apnea is considered a medical condition. So, when seeking treatment from a sleep apnea dentist in New Braunfels, don’t forget to bring your medical, not dental, insurance card. While many medical insurance plans cover sleep apnea therapy, every plan is slightly different. Be sure to confirm coverage with your insurance provider. If you need help understanding the details of your insurance policy, do not hesitate to ask us! Our knowledgeable team is always happy to help patients understand their insurance coverage and maximize their benefits.
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?
No, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, just like not everyone with sleep apnea snores.
Snoring is simply the sound that occurs when air moves past tissues in the throat, causing them to vibrate. Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is a dangerous medical condition that occurs when pauses in breathing occur during sleep.
However, even though snoring and sleep apnea are separate issues, they are connected in many cases. If you snore loudly and frequently, it would certainly be worth your time to talk to your doctor about undergoing a sleep test.
Can I Diagnose Sleep Apnea on My Own?
Sleep apnea is not self-diagnosable. You need to undergo a sleep test and have your results reviewed by a qualified medical professional before you can know for sure if you have sleep apnea and how severe the condition is.
However, you can and should monitor the quality of your sleep. You can even keep a sleep journal or use an app on your smart device to note patterns that might indicate a sleep disorder. Your doctor can use that data to determine if you should undergo a sleep test.
Can My Dentist Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
No, even though the dentists in our office are very knowledgeable about sleep apnea, they are not sleep physicians. Our team works with local experts, and if you believe you have sleep apnea, we can refer you to a practitioner who can help you get a diagnosis.
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, we can welcome you into our practice to talk about the possibility of oral appliance therapy as a way to manage your condition.
Will My Sleep Apnea Go Away If I Lose Weight?
In some cases, sleep apnea occurs when extra fatty tissue in the neck or abdomen places pressure on the airway, leading to pauses in breathing. If that is true of you, weight loss may significantly reduce or even eliminate your symptoms. Even losing a small amount of fat could have a positive effect.
However, it is important to note that some cases of sleep apnea are unrelated to body weight or composition. People of various shapes and sizes have this condition due to things like anatomical abnormalities in their airway, loss of muscle tone, or other factors.
How Can I Travel with Sleep Apnea?
While CPAP therapy is the most common way to address sleep apnea, it can be difficult to take your machine with you when you travel!
Fortunately, oral appliances are much easier to transport. You can simply put your appliance in your carry-on bag and enjoy high-quality rest wherever you are.
Other tips for traveling successfully with sleep apnea include:
- Try to stick to a consistent sleep schedule.
- Do not overdo it when you are on vacation — schedule time for rest!
- Try to address other factors that might affect sleep quality. For example, choose a lodging place with comfortable bedding and good climate control.