Sleep Apnea

Up to 25% of men and 10% of women have sleep apnea, a disorder that causes you to stop and start breathing during sleep. At Double Diamond Dental in Reno, Nevada, sleep apnea specialist Michael A. Morgan, DDS, and his team offer stress-free sleep apnea consultations and comprehensive sleep apnea diagnosis. If you regularly snore or wake up feeling tired, call the office to request a sleep apnea consultation or book online today.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that interferes with your breathing during sleep. Specifically, sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing, dozens or even hundreds of times, during the night. 

What are the types of sleep apnea?

At Double Diamond Dental, the team treats both types of sleep apnea, including:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

OSA occurs when the soft tissues in your upper airways relax, affecting your ability to breathe clearly. Your brain and internal organs can’t get enough oxygen if your airways are completely or partially blocked. The lack of air causes you to snore loudly or wake up gasping for air.

Central sleep apnea

Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn’t send signals to the muscles in your chest that control breathing. It’s rarer than OSA, but generally more serious.

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

Symptoms of sleep apnea include:

• Snoring
• Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
• Mood disturbances
• Headaches
• Trouble concentrating
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
• Sexual dysfunction

If you have sleep apnea, you might also need to urinate more frequently at night.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

To diagnose sleep apnea, the team at Double Diamond Dental reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes an oral exam. They also have you fill out a questionnaire that asks about your sleep hygiene, including if you keep a bedtime and how often you drink alcohol.

The team might also prescribe a home sleep test (HST). An HST is a modified sleep study performed in the comfort of your own home. During an HST, you wear a mask and special sensors. The appliances monitor your airflow, breathing effort, blood oxygen levels, and snoring during sleep.

The day after your HST, you return to Double Diamond Dental. The team downloads the results of your test, interprets them, and makes treatment recommendations.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Treatment of sleep apnea depends on various things, including your age, the severity of your symptoms, and the type of sleep apnea you have. Sometimes, healthy lifestyle changes, like losing weight or not drinking alcohol before bed, are enough to provide relief.

If your symptoms persist or worsen, the team might recommend continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or a customized oral appliance. With CPAP, you wear a facemask that helps keep your airways open during sleep. A customized oral appliance, on the other hand, pushes your lower jaw forward, helping open your airways.

Call Double Diamond Dental or book online to receive treatment for sleep apnea today.