Sleep Apnea Treatment

How Is Sleep Apnea Defined?

Sleep apnea means that your breathing is interrupted, most likely by when your airway closes, limiting the amount of oxygen your body is receiving. For patients this sleep disorder is classified by its severity. The more times your breathing is interrupted during the night, the greater the severity of your sleep disorder. It’s a serious detriment to your body and your overall health, so if you have sleep apnea in Gainesville, then call our office today to schedule an appointment. We can evaluate your condition and determine its severity, which will help us to determine the best protocol for treatment.

Are There Sleep Apnea Symptoms?

There are several symptoms of this sleep disorder and they include:

• Loud and frequent snoring
• Morning headaches
• Pauses in breathing when you’re asleep
• Waking during the night because you’re gasping or choking
• Persistent sore throat or dry mouth in the morning
• Tiredness throughout the day

If you have any or all of these conditions, you may have a sleep disorder, so call us to schedule an evaluation.

What Conditions Will Cause This Sleep Disorder?

Several conditions can contribute to the onset of this sleep disorder, including:

• Genetic tendency
• Age, since it usually affects those who are over 40 years old
• Gender, since males are more likely to develop this disorder
• Being overweight
• Having a neck circumference that’s more than 16 inches

If you have any of the above sleep apnea causes in conjunction with the above symptoms, you may have this sleep disorder, so call our Gainesville office today to schedule an evaluation.

Are There Effective Treatments for Sleep Disorders?

If you have a mild case of this sleep disorder, small lifestyle changes such as sleeping on your side or losing weight may ameliorate the condition. Severe cases may require surgery, but a non-invasive treatment such as a sleep apnea mouthpiece may work if you have a mild to moderate case. We’ll determine the severity of your sleep disorder during your consultation, so call our Gainesville office to schedule an evaluation so that we can help to restore your sleep quality.

Dental Appliances That Are Used to Treat Sleep Disorders

Which Dental Appliances Are Effective for Treating This Sleep Disorder?

The most popular oral appliance for sleep apnea is a sleep apnea mouthguard. It’s portable, convenient, and non-invasive. The mouthguard works similarly to a retainer for braces — it gently maintains the jaw in a forward position so that your airway remains clear and your breathing is unobstructed. This eliminates the primary cause of this sleep disorder, which is an obstructed airway, so the symptoms of your sleep disorder should disappear.

Are Sleep Disorder Appliances Very Costly?

The cost of an oral appliance for sleep apnea in our Gainesville office will be determined by the type of appliance you need and your insurance benefits. However, during your initial evaluation, we’ll advise you of the cost of your sleep apnea mouth guard, so call us if you want to schedule an evaluation or if you have more questions.

Does Oral Appliance Therapy Help Treat Sleep Apnea in Gainesville?

Oral appliance therapy, or OAT, has been very effective in treating this sleep disorder and restoring restful sleep to many of our patients. A lot of people find that a sleep apnea appliance is more convenient than the bulky machines offered. We’d be happy to help you resolve your sleep disorder, so call us today.

Is OAT Therapy Covered By Insurance?

Many insurance plans provide at least partial coverage for OAT treatments, but your plan provider is the best source of information on your benefits, so call them to ascertain your benefits, limits, exclusions, and so forth. If you have problems, we’ll be happy to help but call your provider first.

If you need an oral appliance for sleep apnea in Gainesville, then call Tioga Dental at Celebration Pointe at (352) 389-4386 and let us help you. Our dental professionals are experienced in treating sleep disorders and we look forward to helping you. We do our utmost to maintain our reputation for customer-centric care, so you know you’ll receive the best treatment we can provide. Don’t jeopardize your health and your safety because of a lack of sleep. Call us today. We look forward to speaking with you and working with you.