General and Family Dentistry
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
If you don’t get the rest you need because of snoring, Dr. Lakota may be able to help. Many people wrongly assume that snoring is nothing more than a mild annoyance, but it can indicate a more serious concern, sleep apnea. Characterized by episodes of 10 seconds or more when breathing stops, sleep apnea can negatively affect mental and overall health.
Without treatment, sleep apnea can lead to an increased risk for:
- Acid Reflux
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Heart Attacks
- High Blood Pressure
- Mood Disorders
- Night Time Urination
- Stroke
Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, occurs when the soft palate blocks airflow. Many people’s lower jaw relaxes backward while they sleep. When this happens, a person cannot breathe. The brain signals the body to wake up and resume breathing. The sleep apnea patient cannot achieve deep, fulfilling REM sleep, which is essential to mental and physical wellbeing.
Dr. Lakota will thoroughly evaluate your condition and may order a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis. Many medical doctors turn to the gold standard for sleep apnea therapy, the CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The appliance is a box that generates air, tubes to transport air to and from the patient, and a facemask. CPAP can be difficult to wear for patients who move a lot while sleeping or those who feel claustrophobic. In some cases, the facemask simply does not fit properly, so the therapy is ineffective.
As a CPAP alternative, Dr. Lakota may recommend an oral appliance known as a sleepguard or nightguard. The appliance will be fitted to your mouth, and it will keep your jaw in proper position to optimize airflow. Dr. Mike Lakota is the only area dentist who treats sleep apnea with special care to the TMJ through computerized jaw tracking and EMGs.
If you snore or think you have sleep apnea, don’t go another day with compromised quality of life! Dr. Lakota wants to give you a solid night’s sleep and reason to show off your smile.
Reserve Your Appointment Today!
Call Naperville Smiles today to make an appointment with Dr. Lakota. We serve Naperville, Aurora, Wheaton, Lisle, Downers Grove, Plainfield, and the surrounding areas.
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