Sleep Apnea Therapy – Palm Bay, FL

Do you feel constantly tired despite getting a full night of rest? Does your snoring frequently disrupt your spouse or roommate’s sleep? You may be affected by sleep apnea, a disorder that is growing more and more common throughout the country. If you believe that you might have sleep apnea, please contact us today. Our team at Beautiful You Dental has extensive experience with helping patients overcome the symptoms of sleep apnea and finally achieve a good, relaxing night of sleep. Dentistry is more than just teeth! See us for sleep apnea therapy in Palm Bay, FL.

Sleep apnea is a condition in which the muscles that keep the airway open collapse, and momentarily, the airway is blocked preventing oxygen from reaching your brain during the deepest stages of sleep. The body responds by snoring loudly to force the muscles back into their proper spot. Unfortunately, this action prevents the body from achieving the most rejuvenating levels of sleep. Signs of sleep apnea include frequent fatigue, migraines, and irritability. People who have sleep apnea may find it nearly impossible to sleep throughout the night, and this can result in reduced alertness during the day. Sleep apnea therapy can help treat this condition!

We can fit you for a TAP 3 device, which you’ll wear at night to keep your airway open. It’s custom-made for each patient in order to achieve a comfortable fit. The mouthpiece works by preventing the soft tissues in the mouth and throat from collapsing. At first, it may seem strange to wear this appliance at night, but 95% of TAP 3 sleep apnea therapy patients reported a restful sleep after using it only once! Speak with us today to get the rest you deserve.

Please call us today to schedule your sleep apnea therapy appointment. We see patients from Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Sebastian, Melbourne, and nearby Florida neighborhoods. If this will be your initial trip to our dental office, please take a moment to review the information on the new patient page.

SLEEP APNEA Frequently Asked Questions

An estimated 20% of adults have at least mild sleep apnea and many haven’t been diagnosed. Without a diagnosis, people miss out on the treatment they need for better overall health, energy levels, and quality of life. To learn more about this common condition, keep reading for answers to the FAQs we hear most often as a dentist in Palm Bay. And feel free to give us a call if you have other questions or if you’d simply like to schedule a consultation. We provide simple, effective sleep apnea treatment that's easier than you might think!

 

1. What Causes Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Excess weight
• A family history
• A deviated septum
• High blood pressure
• A large neck or large tonsils
• Nasal blockages such as nasal polyps
• Eating or drinking too close to bedtime, which causes the throat muscles to relax more than they should
• In general, men are more susceptible than women

2. How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Your General Health?

Unfortunately, sleep apnea affects many aspects of your general health. Some doctors have even estimated that untreated sleep apnea triples a person’s risk of early death. Here are just some of the many conditions it’s associated with:

• High blood pressure – Sleep apnea can cause your breathing to stop up to 30 times an hour. Each time this causes temporary oxygen starvation and increases your blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular disease – In addition to contributing to high blood pressure, sleep apnea can also lead to an abnormal heart rhythm and high cholesterol.
• Obesity – Obesity is both a cause and effect of sleep apnea.
• Impaired immunity - Sleep apnea disrupts your immune function, potentially leading to more frequent colds, infections, and other illnesses.
• Insulin levels and diabetes – Sleep apnea makes it difficult to maintain healthy blood sugar.
• Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) – These conditions are exacerbated by sleep apnea.

Given the many serious ways that your overall health is affected, sleep apnea treatment in Palm Bay is incredibly important!

3. How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea and What Are the Symptoms?

An accurate diagnosis is crucial to make sure the right condition is being treated. This is done by having a sleep study in which your breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate and more are monitored. Dr. Nowacki will also evaluate you for sleep apnea during your checkup exams and may ask if you've noticed the following symptoms:

• Hearing from a partner that you snore or gasp for breath while sleeping
• Daytime fatigue, even with 8-9 hours of sleep
• Trouble focusing or paying attention at work or school
• Waking up repeatedly throughout the night
• Anxiety, irritability or depression
• Having a hard time remembering things
• Chronic sore throats in the morning

4. How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

Once you've been diagnosed, Dr. Nowacki can create a custom-made oral appliance that gently repositions your lower jaw to open your airway at night. These appliances are comfortable, portable, and lightweight, not to mention very effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea.

More severe cases may respond better to a CPAP machine in which you wear a mask that delivers pressurized air to keep your airway open. Some people get the best results from combination therapy by using an oral appliance along with their CPAP. This makes their CPAP easier to tolerate and more effective.