Lafayette, LA Sleep Apnea

Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

If you snore loudly at night and feel excessively tired during the day, even after a full night’s sleep, you might be suffering from sleep apnea.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you are sleeping.

There are several types of sleep apnea, but the most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when the muscles in your throat intermittently relax, allowing gravity to pull your airways closed, where you cannot breathe. When this happens, your brain is alerted to wake you from your sleep. You may choke, snort, or gasp, before falling back to sleep, only for the pattern to repeat itself, over and over until morning.

The most obvious signs of obstructive sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping or choking, and waking with a dry mouth, sore throat, or headache.

Is Sleep Apnea Something to Worry About?

Yes. Sleep apnea is associated with several life-threatening conditions. If left untreated, sleep apnea can cause or worsen high blood pressure and lead to cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, and more. Fatigue is a serious symptom, too, as the disruptive patterns of sleep apnea will prevent you from getting the rest your body needs.

Silent Nite: A Solution for Sleep Apnea & Snoring

There are many treatment options for sleep apnea—some more invasive than others. But if your case is mild to moderate, or if you simply want to cease your snoring, we offer a great solution at Camellia Dental.

Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch recommend the Silent Nite® as a simple, yet effective fix for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. Worn only at night, this flexible, lightweight device (pictured at right) is similar to a retainer or a mouth guard used in contact sports.

Using the Silent Nite® is easy—just insert the device into your mouth before you go to bed. The Silent Nite® works by gently moving your lower jaw into a forward position, opening your airways, and giving you a safe and satisfying night’s sleep.

Your Silent Nite® Fitting & Follow-Up

To get your Silent Nite® appliance, you’ll start with an exam at our office in Lafayette. We will take detailed impressions of your teeth and submit them to our lab, where your Silent Nite® will be created and customized, uniquely for your case.

Once your Silent Nite® is ready, you will return to our office for a fitting and follow-up. Dr. Thimmesch or Dr. Foreman will adjust the appliance to your comfort and answer any questions you might have about cleaning, storing, and maintaining your Silent Nite® appliance. And that’s it! You’ll take your appliance home and begin wearing it that night. And whenever you come in for future appointments, we’ll ask you to bring your appliance, so we can inspect it for wear and tear.

Sleep apnea and snoring are not only nuisances for those you love, but they can have serious, negative effects on your overall health. If you think you might have mild to moderate sleep apnea, or you just want to stop the snoring, please give us a call at Camellia Dental, or use our request an appointment form. We would love to help you out!