Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea and snoring in Highland, Utah, represent a spectrum of breathing disorders that occur during sleep. Snoring happens when relaxed tissues in your throat partially block your airway, causing vibrations as air passes through. While snoring can be merely annoying for your bed partner, it sometimes signals a more serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes completely blocked repeatedly throughout the night, causing brief periods of stopped breathing. Your brain detects the oxygen drop and briefly rouses you to restart breathing, though you usually don’t remember these awakenings. This cycle can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative sleep stages your body needs.
Several factors increase your risk of developing sleep apnea. Excess weight puts pressure on your airway, while anatomical features like a thick neck, narrow airway, or enlarged tonsils can restrict breathing. Age causes throat muscles to relax more, and genetics play a role in airway structure. Men develop sleep apnea more frequently than women, though the risk for women increases after menopause. Smoking, alcohol use, and certain medications that relax muscles can worsen symptoms.
Recognizing the Signs of Sleep Apnea
Many people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have it because the breathing interruptions happen while they’re asleep. Often, a bed partner notices the problem first, observing pauses in breathing followed by gasping or choking sounds.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud, chronic snoring that occurs almost every night
- Witnessed breathing pauses during sleep
- Gasping or choking sensations that wake you up
- Excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate time in bed
- Morning headaches that fade as the day progresses
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- Mood changes, including irritability and depression
- Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Restless sleep or insomnia
Left untreated, sleep apnea contributes to serious health problems. The repeated oxygen deprivation and sleep disruption strain your cardiovascular system, increasing your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and irregular heartbeat. Sleep apnea also raises your risk of type 2 diabetes, worsens existing conditions like asthma, and contributes to metabolic syndrome. Daytime drowsiness increases your risk of accidents while driving or operating machinery.
How Dentistry Addresses Sleep Apnea
While CPAP machines remain the gold standard treatment for severe sleep apnea, many patients find them uncomfortable, noisy, and difficult to use consistently. Oral appliance therapy offers an effective alternative for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea or those who can’t tolerate CPAP.
Custom Oral Appliances
Oral appliances for sleep apnea look similar to sports mouthguards or orthodontic retainers, but they’re specifically designed to keep your airway open during sleep. These devices work by gently repositioning your lower jaw forward, which prevents your tongue and soft tissues from collapsing backward and blocking your airway. Some appliances also hold your tongue in a forward position to maintain an open breathing passage.
Custom-fitted oral appliances created from impressions of your teeth provide the best results. The precise fit ensures comfort throughout the night and allows for fine-tuning the jaw position to find the optimal balance between effectiveness and comfort. Unlike one-size-fits-all devices available online, professionally fitted appliances can be adjusted as needed and are designed to last for years with proper care.
The Treatment Process
Treating sleep apnea starts with proper diagnosis. If you haven’t already been diagnosed, we’ll refer you to a sleep specialist who can conduct a sleep study to confirm sleep apnea and determine its severity. Once diagnosed, we’ll take detailed impressions of your teeth and bite to create your custom oral appliance.
When your appliance is ready, we’ll ensure it fits comfortably and show you how to insert, remove, and care for it. Initially, you may need a few adjustment appointments as we fine-tune the jaw position to maximize effectiveness while maintaining comfort. Follow-up sleep studies help verify that the appliance is working properly and improving your breathing during sleep.
Benefits Beyond Better Sleep
Successfully treating sleep apnea transforms your quality of life. Patients report feeling more energetic during the day, thinking more clearly, and experiencing improved mood. Your bed partner will appreciate quieter nights, and you’ll reduce your risk of serious health complications. Oral appliances are portable, quiet, and easy to maintain, making them ideal for travel and consistent long-term use.
Start Sleeping Better Tonight
Don’t let sleep apnea steal another night of restorative rest. Call Treehouse Dental at (801) 756-2273 to schedule a consultation with Dr. William Collins, Dr. Beau Seager, and the team about oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea and snoring. We’ll evaluate your situation, discuss treatment options, and help you find a solution that lets you breathe easier and sleep better. Discover the joy of a healthy smile at Utah’s trusted family dental clinic!
