Does your partner snore loudly or wake to gasp for air?
Loud snoring is a common sign that you may be experiencing sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder that affects your emotional and physical health. Sleep apnea is a common health concern that affects many people. Left untreated sleep apnea can lead to the development of secondary issues and may be disruptive to your productivity and overall quality of life.
LIFESmiles provides sleep apnea screenings and treatment at our Boise, ID dentist office. We help patients diagnose sleep apnea so that they can find the appropriate treatment for their needs. Treating sleep apnea can be life-saving- get screened for sleep apnea by calling (208) 254-6365 to request a sleep apnea screening.
What causes obstructive sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is most commonly caused by the collapse of soft tissue or the muscles at the back of the throat. The tissue collapses and blocks the airway disrupting the flow of oxygen to the brain and body. Patients with OSA may wake to gasp for air up to 500 times a night. Patients are unable to get a full night’s rest and begin to show signs of sleep deprivation.
Patients with sleep apnea typically:
- Have difficulty concentrating
- Feel chronically fatigued
- Wake up with headaches due to oxygen deprivation
- Have higher rates of depression
- Experience agitation and frustration easily
- Have a large neck circumference
- Snore loudly while sleeping
- Maybe overweight
- Are at a higher risk for heart attacks and strokes
- Have lower sex drives
Sleep apnea can be life-threatening and should be addressed as soon as possible. Proper oxygen flow and sleep are essential to living a healthy life. Patients who do not address their sleep apnea experience an overall decrease in their quality of life and health. Restoring normal oxygen flow during sleep can help you feel refreshed when you wake in the morning.
Solea Sleep in Boise
Life Smiles is currently the only dental practice in the Boise area offering this revolutionary snoring and sleep apnea treatment option. Solea Sleep is a unique laser treatment that targets the common cause of snoring: vibration of soft palate tissue and collapse of soft tissue into the throat or airway. The primary source of snoring is the vibration that can occur when air flows past relaxed tissues in the soft palate. These tissues can become even more relaxed with age or weight gain.
What is Solea Sleep?
Solea Sleep therapy is a non-surgical laser treatment performed in our office. The laser targets soft tissue at the back of the throat that is affecting the airway. The laser is designed to stimulate natural collagen production and tighten the tissue to open the airway and minimize or eliminate snoring.
Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is best treated when diagnosed early. LIFESmiles offers sleep apnea screenings and oral appliance therapy for the prevention and treatment of sleep apnea. Similar to a sports mouthguard the oral appliance is custom-designed to fit comfortably and securely in the mouth. The patient only wears the appliance while asleep in order to keep the airway open. The appliance aligns the jaw and muscles in such a way that the airway remains unblocked throughout the night. Patients are able to breathe freely and rest well.
Oral appliance therapy stops snoring and treats sleep apnea reliving morning headaches and chronic fatigue.
The oral appliance is more discreet and often more effective than the traditional CPAP machine. Often times the bulky nature of the CPAP machine discourages patients from using it. The oral appliance is comfortable and easy to wear and offers higher compliance rates. The discreet appliance fits easily in a case for easy carry-on travel.