Sleep plays an important role in everyone’s day-to-day activities. Without proper sleep, people could experience a drop in productivity at work or put people in danger behind the wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that nearly 100,000 automobile accidents occur each year due to sleep-deprived drivers.
Many people don’t obtain the proper amount of rejuvenating sleep because of snoring. Although the act of snoring seems harmless enough, it could indicate that a person suffers from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Your Des Moines sleep apnea dentist, Dr. Stephen Burds, discusses snoring cessation and treating OSA.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Some studies estimate that nearly 20 million people suffer from OSA, and speculate that as many as 40% of obese patients suffer from the condition. When OSA patients sleep, their airways constrict causing a lack of oxygen to the brain. Their bodies will attempt to reestablish proper airway flow by momentarily waking up. These disturbances or apneas can occur hundreds of time each night. Not only do patients with OSA suffer from poor sleep, but their spouses also encounter sleep difficulties due to loud snoring. Both the sufferer and the spouse can experience additional health issues if they continue for prolonged periods without obtaining rejuvenating sleep.
Snoring Cessation in Des Moines
At our Des Moines sleep apnea dentist office, we can offer a few solutions to snoring issues. Many physicians often prescribe CPAP machines to patients. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine. However, many patients report intolerance to the CPAP machines and wish to explore other options. Our office also provides oral appliance therapy. We can custom-fit an oral appliance to allow air to move freely through your airways. Your oral appliance will be worn overnight, and can reposition the jaw to provide a better night’s sleep for you and your spouse.
Schedule Your Obstructive Sleep Apnea Visit Today
Interested in a good night’s sleep? Looking to eliminate snoring from your nighttime routine? At Gateway Dental Group, we provide oral appliance therapy, comprehensive dental care, and cosmetic dentistry. Contact our 50309 dental office by calling (515) 344-4131 to schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from Des Moines and all neighboring communities.