Do you or a loved one suffer from sleep apnea? While this condition can be uncomfortable, as well as a health risk, there are solutions to help you achieve a sound night’s sleep. While most people consider their dentist for oral work, they don’t realize their dentist can often play a significant role in helping them reduce and eradicate their sleep apnea. 

Dr. Anthony can help patients with Sleep Apnea

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can easily turn life-threatening if not properly addressed by a medical professional. It is categorized as a series of episodes where a person stops breathing for ten seconds or longer during sleep. Dr. Anthony can help you identify if you have some of the symptoms common in sleep apnea.

How Does It Affect Your Life?

Depending on the severity of the condition, sleep apnea can take a major toll on your emotional and physical health, as well as that of your family members’. While you might not realize you are snoring during the night, your partner will usually suffer from the constant noise. A few signs that can help you identify if you have a problem include waking up with a headache, excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired cognitive functioning, and difficulty in maintaining focus. The long-term effects of sleep apnea include the risk of heart attacks or strokes.  

How Can Your Dentist Help With This Condition? 

Since Dr. Anthony likely sees you more often than your primary care physician, she can identify the signs of sleep apnea through a basic initial exam. Common indicators include dry mouth, lethargy, tooth grinding, or receding gum lines. If these factors are identified, Dr. Anthony works with the sleep doctors in Kalispell to develop a treatment plan that will work for you.  There are several strategies which may help include switching sleeping positions, losing weight, quitting smoking.  A sleep study is a definitive way to identify if you suffer from Oral Sleep Apnea.  We work hand in hand with the MDs who specialize in sleep disorders to design a plan for our patients.  Dr. Anthony has many hours of training in dental sleep medicine.  She has vast experience with the custom fabrication of dental sleep appliances which keep the airways open at night. We also find that many medical insurance companies will pay some portion of this equipment and we are prepared to help.

If you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea or you have questions regarding the condition, we can help. Leslie B. Anthony, DMD, has been serving Kalispell, MT, for over 20 years with preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dental care. Call the trusted team today at (406) 752-8161 or visit their website for more information on how they can help your sleeping issues.