Sleep Apnea
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Blue Sky Family Dentistry
Ben Corpron, DDS
Cosmetic and Family Dentist located in Circle C Ranch, Austin, TX
Feeling tired, angry, irritated, or depressed might feel like a regular challenge of getting older. However, these personality and demeanor changes might be out of your control because of a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. At Blue Sky Family Dentistry in Austin, Texas, Ben Corpron, DDS, provides an in-depth analysis of your obstructive sleep apnea. He and his team create custom appliances allowing you to breathe at night. Call Blue Sky Family Dentistry or book an appointment online to find out if sleep apnea is preventing you from feeling rested today.
Sleep Apnea Q & A
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is one of the most common conditions affecting the quality of Americans’ sleep. When you have it, you struggle to breathe at night, causing a lack of oxygen in your lungs. The potential complications are numerous and detrimental to your health.
The most common and easy-to-treat form of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea. With obstructive sleep apnea, your airway is closed off because of a physical obstruction in your airway. It’s usually due to the way your throat tissues close in on themselves when you relax at night.
You’re at a higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea if you’re overweight, have a large neck, have a large tongue, or have a congested or narrow airway.
What symptoms does sleep apnea cause?
Sleep apnea is hard to detect by yourself simply because you’re asleep and unaware of your breathing problems at night. You might not even realize or remember how regularly the condition awakens you from sleep. If you live with someone, they may tell you about your snoring or gasping for breath as you sleep.
Some men and women are surprised to find that sleep apnea causes daytime symptoms, too. You might have sleep apnea if you notice one or more of these signs regularly:
- Sleepiness during the day
- Daily morning headaches
- Depression
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- A dry mouth and throat in the morning
- High blood pressure
Over time, these symptoms can cause a decline in your quality of life. Your difficulty breathing at night can put you at risk for heart problems, stroke, and other life-threatening complications.
How can I improve my sleep apnea symptoms?
Dr. Corpron and his team can get you back to restful sleep as soon as possible. They use SICAT Air by Dentsply Sirona® to render a detailed image of your upper airway and find the cause of the obstruction.
Using the three-dimensional image, Dr. Corpron creates custom oral appliances for you to wear at night. They’re designed to adjust your jaw’s position and keep your airway open as you relax.
The device is made of a comfortable plastic material and is small enough to let you close your mouth as you wear it. The best part? You can breathe freely and alleviate your day and nighttime symptoms.
If you’re tired and irritated during the day, it might not just be your personality. Call or click today to find out if you have sleep apnea and start treatment at Blue Sky Family Dentistry.
