Sleep Apnea Services
Snoring and restless sleeping may not seem like significant health problems, but these nighttime nuisances can be signs of a serious and life-threatening condition: sleep apnea.
Sleep what??
Sleep apnea is caused when soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse and obstruct part of the airway opening, or even block it completely. This results in a repetitive interruption of breathing occurring for 10 seconds or longer, multiple times during sleep. Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of TMJ/jaw disorders and has been linked to a range of serious health conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure and increased risk of stroke.
Signs + Symptoms
Wondering if you may suffer from sleep apnea? Here are some symptoms to look out for:
- snoring
- waking up choking
- grinding teeth at night
- unintentionally falling asleep in front of the tv or when reading a book
- difficulty with memory or concentration
- mouth breathing
- frequent nighttime trips to restroom
- morning headaches
- erectile dysfunction
- history of heart disease or stroke
- insomnia
- waking up tired
- health history of sleep apnea
Solutions at CNS Dental
While more severe cases of sleep apnea require Continuous Positive Airway (CPAP) therapy, we are excited to offer alternatives for patients with more moderate cases of sleep apnea or those who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. Our doctors at CNS are highly trained to custom fit patients with oral sleep apnea appliances, which are worn in the mouth during sleep. The appliance moves the lower jaw and tongue forward to open the airway and prevent obstruction. This helps improve your quality of sleep, while reducing the incidence and effects of snoring and sleep apnea. Oral appliances to treat sleep apnea are comfortable, quiet, portable, easy to care for and don’t restrict movement while sleeping.
Our Process
If you think you may suffer from sleep apnea, we recommend making an appointment with your physician for an assessment and referral for a sleep study. If sleep apnea has been diagnosed, and an oral appliance is recommended, we can help. We’ll sit down with you during an initial consultation, discussing your specific symptoms, needs and concerns and then review our process for getting you started with a sleep apnea appliance. Because each person has a different mouth and jaw shape, we take care to make sure your appliance is a perfect fit. Once we make impressions of your teeth, a dental mold is sent to our labs. About two weeks later, we’ll have you back to fit and adjust your appliance for comfort. Over time, our team will supervise the adjustment of your device to ensure its comfort and to monitor how your appliance is improving your overall sleep apnea symptoms.
Insurance Coverage
Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea is covered by most medical insurance plans. Our staff will provide the appropriate paperwork to submit to medical insurance companies for reimbursement. For any out-of-pocket expenses, we offer Care Credit or in office payment plans.
Schedule Your Appointment Today!
Our office hours are as follows:
Monday: 10:30 AM – 7 PM
Tuesday: 7 AM – 3:30 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM – 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM – 5 PM
Friday: 7 AM – 2 PM
Saturday: By Appointment