How Can You Treat Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which you often awake because your airway is blocked. Sometimes treating sleep apnea is a simple answer – a lifestyle change. However, other times it can involve sleeping with certain devices in order to maintain your oxygen. Sleep apnea can be difficult to diagnose because sometimes symptoms can be as minimal as loud snoring. If you (or your partner) think you could have sleep apnea, talk to your dentist about getting a diagnosis. How can you treat sleep apnea?

What Is A Sleep Study?

There are two different kinds of sleep studies; a polysomnogram and a home-based test. Both of these tests record your heart rate, blood pressure, and the amount of oxygen in your blood while you sleep.

What Are Sleep Apnea Treatments?

For extreme sleep apnea cases, surgery is recommended to remove tissue or repositioning the jaw.  For mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, there are several devices that can help to provide oxygen.

CPAP – The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device delivers air pressure through a mask placed over your face while you sleep. The air pressure encourages your airways to stay open, preventing sleep apnea.

Oral Appliances – Oral appliances are designed to move your jaw around until your throat is open enough to prevent snoring and sleep apnea.