Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea that affects millions of Americans. Dr. Sulekha Agrawal treats sleep apnea in her Columbia, MD dental office, although it is not simply just a dental concern. OSA occurs when the soft tissues in the airway collapse and obstruct breathing. Patients with sleep apnea may wake up to breathe or snore frequently. While this may seem harmless, sleep apnea can progress into heart and breathing problems.

SLEEP APNEA RISK FACTORS

There are multiple conditions that may make some patients more prone to snoring or sleep apnea than others. Patients who are overweight or are over the age of 50 are at risk of developing OSA. In addition, if sleep apnea is untreated, it could lead to heart problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and strokes. Sleep apnea causes high blood pressure because it drops the blood oxygen level. OSA needs to be treated in order to prevent heart and health problems from worsening over time.

SIGNS OF SLEEP APNEA

Be aware of these common signs of sleep apnea as many patients do not realize that they suffer from this disorder:

Drowsiness during the day
Mood swings
Snoring
Dry mouth
Breathing through the mouth
Constantly waking up during the night

Please contact Clover Smiles if you or your partner have noticed these symptoms. It’s better to treat sleep apnea when it is caught early on so symptoms do not worsen over time.

TREAT SLEEP APNEA IN SC

A Continous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine helps patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea. CPAP machines deliver air through a mask fastened over the nose and mouth.

TAP Custom oral appliances are best for patients who are intolerant of CPAP machines. Similar to a mouthguard, oral appliances are worn at night to open up the airways. To create the oral appliance, we take digital scans of your teeth that are sent to TAP. In a few weeks, when the appliance is complete, we will make any final adjustments to ensure it fits properly.