Sleep Apnea Appliances in Brentwood - Signs You Have Sleep Apnea

Dentist in Brentwood describes signs that you may have obstructive sleep apnea and need appliances

Dr. Jamil Alkhoury

sleep apnea treatment with CPAP therapy woman, sleeping

When patients are told they have obstructive sleep apnea by their primary physician, they are in need of treatment. The first option typically suggested is CPAP therapy. This machine opens the airways with a stream of air. However, they are cumbersome and uncomfortable for many patients, resulting in noncompliance. Instead, the team of Brentwood Family Dental in Brentwood, California may suggest the use of sleep apnea appliances as an alternative.

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Dr. Jamil Alkhoury describes obstructive sleep apnea as a sleeping disorder caused by a blockage in the airway while a person attempts to get a restful night's sleep. This blockage may be caused by the tongue, excess fat in the neck area, a misaligned jaw, or a combination of factors. This keeps the patient from reaching the deep levels of sleep needed to feel rested each morning. Most patients with obstructive sleep apnea will wake up hundreds of times a night.

What are signs that you may have obstructive sleep apnea?

Continually disrupted sleep
Chronic snoring
Gasping for air at night
Daytime fatigue
Depression and anxiety
Poor concentration and memory

When the issues above are present, it may be time to speak to your physician about undergoing a sleep study to get a proper diagnosis. Then, patients can visit their dentist to learn about appliances for this condition.

What is an appliance?

Sleep apnea appliances are special mouth pieces that are worn at night when patients sleep to keep the airways open and promote the deep sleep patients need to feel their best every day. It is an alternative way to treat the condition without the use of a CPAP device.

Do you think you may have obstructive sleep apnea?

If the signs of sleep apnea sound familiar to you, it may be time to educate yourself on whether this condition is affecting you. Call Dr. Jamil Alkhoury and the team at Brentwood Family Dental today at (925) 344-5296. Our practice, conveniently located at 4411 Balfour Road, Suite C, is always accepting new patients of all ages for comprehensive dental care.