You may not think that a dentist in North Carolina can help you with your sleep disorders. But at Sunrise Dental (with locations in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill) we have actually invested a lot of time and energy in figuring out how to best treat our patients that are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.

Keep reading to hear more, and then be sure to follow up and schedule your sleep dentistry consultation with Dr. Vice.

Warning Signs

Many people want to know how they can be sure that they are dealing with sleep apnea issues. Here are some warning signs: you are repeatedly told by others that you snore like a freight train; you are constantly wiped out and can’t ever seem to get enough sleep; you wake up in the middle of the night gasping for breath; you wake up in the morning with a splitting headache; you wake up with a sore or dry throat; you are more irritable than usual at work and at play.

If any of that that sounds like you, it is essential that you seek a proper diagnosis and, of course, treatment for sleep apnea ASAP.

Why is it such a big deal? If left undiagnosed or untreated, this condition can trigger a stroke, bring about heart disease, and cause you to behave badly.

Sleep Apnea Uncovered

Here’s the deal: Central Sleep Apnea Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Disorder are the two main ways in which the condition manifests itself.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the one we see the most of at Sunrise Dental. It happens when your throat muscles relax to the point that they obstruct your airways. This leads to extended breaks in night-time breathing and typically forces you to suddenly wake up struggling for air.

The bad part is that, since your brain is busy all night keeping you alive, when you wake up in the morning, you won’t feel rested at all! This is not any way to live, and your body won’t tolerate it for very long. Fortunately, like we said, obstructed sleep apnea is something that we are able to treat effectively around here.

Sleep Apnea Treatment In NC

Here’s something you may not know: the American Academy of Sleep Medicine added oral appliances as a primary treatment option for patients with mild or moderate sleep apnea about 10 years ago. This was welcome news for many patients who have difficulty using a CPAP machine, and it gave dentists a real role in the solution to this obnoxious and potentially life-threatening problem.

To verify what is going on with you, we can help you arrange a sleep test to determine if you have sleep apnea or not. Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, we can then design a custom-built oral appliance just for you.

How does it work?

These appliances shift your jaw forward just enough to make a difference at bedtime. Wearing such a device will you allow you to continue to breathe normally throughout the night, and reduce your snoring, so you can get the deep sleep that you deserve without disrupting the entire house.

Wake Up To A Better Life!

If you suspect that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, get in touch with Sunrise Dental right away. Dr. Vice will get you sleeping better and smiling bigger in no time! Contact us now to get started!