With sleep apnea, it’s often not the patient who realizes they have a problem first, it’s their partner. If your partner is ready to throw you out of bed because of your snoring, it’s possible you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can cause excessive snoring because of the airway obstruction it causes. It can get so bad, that neither you nor your partner can sleep well.
It also causes you to wake up suddenly when your brain rouses you as a result of lower blood oxygen levels. Even if the snoring doesn’t wake your partner, your sudden move as you gasp awake can disturb their sleep too. In short, neither one of you are likely to get a good night’s sleep, and that can be a real problem for your relationship.
Dr. Koehne and his staff at the Wheaton Dental Sleep Center will begin by determining the cause of your snoring. This begins with a thorough consultation and an at-home sleep test. If we determine you have obstructive sleep apnea – the most common cause of sleep apnea – we can then develop an appropriate treatment plan for you.
Our dental professionals understand how sleep apnea can affect your life, and we’re dedicated to helping you find the best solution to your problem. We want to help restore your overall health and wellbeing in the least invasive way possible. You might not (yet) be able to sleep at night, but you can rest assured that we will do everything we can to restore your, and your partner’s, restful night’s sleep.
At Wheaton Dental Sleep Center, we like to take a holistic approach to treat your sleep apnea. We start with the least invasive lifestyle changes to help alleviate the frequency and severity of the apnea episodes. This can mean counseling patients to lose weight, avoid using alcohol and certain sleeping pills, and/or adjusting sleep positions by using a wedge pillow.
Additionally, patients who have problems with sinus congestion can benefit from breathing strips or nasal sprays to improve the airflow at night. While these are helpful changes to make, it can be hard to make them without a good night’s sleep. That’s why you might need an oral dental appliance to help reposition your jaw so that the tissues at the back of your throat can’t block your airway.
Typically, these devices move your lower jaw forward and prevent your tongue from blocking your throat. In more severe cases, your physician may opt to use a continuous positive airway pressure – or CPAP – device to ensure your breathing is not interrupted.
At the Wheaton Dental Sleep Center, Dr. Koehne understands how sleep apnea can create problems in your relationship and your whole life. We’re here to help you get back on track with a restful night’s sleep. Call our office today for a consultation!
Amber Dental Building
319 East Roosevelt Road | Wheaton, IL 60187