Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea Causing Excessive Daytime Drowsiness
Undiagnosed sleep apnea is a hidden health crisis costing Americans over 100 billion dollars according to the Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and while this is a medical condition often diagnosed by your physician, your local dentist can prescribe and develop the oral appliance required to treat it.
The most common form of sleep apnea treated at Modern Smiles Dental Practice in North Hollywood is obstructive sleep apnea which is a debilitating sleep-related breathing disorder defined as the cessation of breathing for 10 seconds or more. While you’re sleeping your body’s muscles relax and as a result the soft tissue of the airways collapse, obstructing the airway. The body reacts to the closure of the airway by disrupting deep sleep long enough for you to wake up and start breathing again, but at the cost of getting a good night’s sleep. This repeated cycle, if untreated, can lead to strokes, heart disease, and excessive daytime drowsiness.
Dr. Tajik, restorative dentist in North Hollywood, recommends oral appliances such as EMA (Elastic Mandibular Advancement) as a front line of treatment for snoring and sleep apnea, and in cases where Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device (CPAP) has not been tolerated. What our patient’s like about this oral appliance is that they fit entirely inside the mouth, they are easily portable, they do not have to be plugged in or make noises while operating, and you can change sleep positions.
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, discuss it with your doctor and make an appointment with Modern Smiles to get an evaluation. Don’t ignore symptoms or assume you have to settle with feeling tired or foggy all day. Getting healthy sleep can make a world of difference in your quality of life and health.