Sleep apnea is a relatively common disorder that is characterized as pauses in your breathing. It can also be classified as shallow, superficial breaths while you sleep. The pauses in your breathing can last from a couple of seconds to a few minutes. As an example, during an hour of sleep, you can stop breathing anywhere from 5 to 30 times or more! Then when you start up your breathing again, it can start with a loud snort or a choking sound, although some people can be silent.
Sleep apnea is an ongoing, perpetual condition, that takes a serious toll on the quality of your sleep. When you suffer from sleep apnea, you constantly switch from deep sleep to light sleep, resulting in an overall poor rest, leaving you tired and weary during the next morning.
Sleep apnea generally goes undetected and undiagnosed because a lot of doctors don’t uncover the condition during regular office visits. Most people that suffer from sleep apnea aren’t aware they suffer from it. A lot of times the first ones to become aware of your situation is a family member, spouse or bed partner.
The most common type of sleep apnea is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea. This is when your airway has collapsed or is restricted and this ensuing blockage causes shallow breathing or breathing pauses. When you try to breathe, any air that gets past the blockage can cause loud snoring (which is why a bed partner generally detects the problem first).
The reduced airflow and strained breathing put a lot of stress and strain on your heart. When you don’t get enough sleep in general, it can harm your heart. Cardiovascular disease, strokes, heart attacks and in critical cases even death, have all been connected to lack of sleep. Additionally, chronic sleep loss prevents your body’s ability to perform even basic metabolic functions, including regulating your hormones.
If you visit your family doctor, chances are they will prescribe a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine for sleep apnea treatment. While they do work, the problem is a lot of people find it uncomfortable to use and they don’t end up using it. In fact, only about 25% of people can fully adapt to CPAP use, therefore the majority of people continue to suffer from sleep apnea and its potential life-threatening consequences.
Dr. Shauna Palmer has found oral appliance therapy can be an alternative and successful and simple sleep apnea treatment for her patients. In case-by-case treatments, Dr. Palmer fits you with a physiologically designed appliance, which would be comparable to a mouth guard or one used to treat TMJ jaw problems.
This appliance re-positions your jaw and tongue to a more forward position, helping keep your airway open during sleep. Since Dr. Palmer uses a physiologic technique to determine this position, it is more effective, it stops grinding of teeth, it is easy to adapt to, and it prevents and reduces more common side effects of traditional sleep apnea devices like TMJ pain and bite changes for example.
A physiologic position is where the muscles, jaw joints, and teeth are positioned in a relaxed and harmonious way. This is accomplished with the help of an ultra-low frequency TENS device to relax the jaw, neck, and airway muscles. We also use computerized jaw tracking and electromyography which aids in fine-tuning the physiologic position needed to build the sleep apnea appliance. Oral appliance therapy is also an effective treatment for snoring.
[These are actual Google Reviews]
Easily the best experience I have had at a dental clinic. From start to finish, the entire team works their hardest to make the entire process as comforting and informative as possible...
Dr. Palmer is very thorough and detailed. I generally tend to avoid going to the dentists because of not so positive past experiences. However, I have been very impressed ...
I have never in my life been so impressed with a dentist's office. I chose this practice when I moved here because it spoke to being holistic, and holistic it is ...
Most people wouldn’t think to ask their dentist about their sleep problem. But the most common sleep disruption is snoring and sleep apnea, both of which are completely treatable by a sleep-trained dentist. A sleep apnea focused dentist like Dr. Palmer, can help you reduce and even eliminate your sleep problems altogether with a sleep apnea treatment. When your airways are restricted and your breathing is affected, a lot of times this is directly related to the position of your jaw and it can be alleviated with physiologic orthotics and sleep appliances.
Since sleep apnea is a medical condition and a dental sleep apnea device is considered a medical device, Dr. Palmer works in conjunction with your family physician, sleep physician, or medical specialist to ensure your overall health is being addressed. For dental sleep apnea devices a referral from your medical physician is required. Also, we can help you navigate your insurance coverage for this device if it is a covered procedure.
Face tomorrow invigorated and recharged by finally getting a good night sleep tonight.
Call our West Kelowna dental clinic today and find out exactly what you are dealing with and what your sleep apnea treatment is best for you.
Why choose Dr. Shauna Palmer?
Make an appointment today!
The information provided on this website is not intended to serve as medical advice. An appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan for any patient can be made only by visiting your dentist, physician, or group of doctors. Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer at Health & Beauty Dentistry in Kelowna, BC, shall have no liability or responsibility to any individual with respect to loss or damage directly or indirectly caused or alleged by the information contained in this website or obtained from other websites to which a visitor may connect and view. Kelowna dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer provides family, cosmetic, restorative, sedation and holistic dentistry, dental implants, periodontal gum care, TMJ treatment, snoring & sleep apnea treatment, Invisalign orthodontics, and more.
CALL: 250 768 3984
ADDRESS: 2446 Main St, West Kelowna, BC
SERVICES:
Kelowna dental emergencies, hygiene, family, cosmetic, holistic, sedation, and TMJ pain dentistry, periodontal treatment, teeth whitening, root canals, crowns & bridges, broken teeth, white fillings, mercury removal, dental implants, veneers, snoring & sleep apnea care, orthodontics and dental braces.