Sleep Apnea San Antonio 

Sleep is one of the essential things in life that we cannot afford to have disrupted. There are many individuals that suffer from a sleep disorder called sleep apnea which can escalate become a very serious matter. We are able to identify and offer treatment for sleep apnea at our San Antonio dental practice to allow you to sleep comfortably. In addition to all of his dentistry accolades, Dr. Chris Reger is also a provider for SomnoMed, a company that provides treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a complication that goes beyond being restless or having insomnia. When an individual has sleep apnea they will stop and start breathing throughout the night. There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common of the two, and it is distinguished by the relaxation of the throat muscles during sleep. Central sleep apnea happens when your brain doesn’t send the proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing while sleeping. There are certain red flags signaling that you could be dealing with the issue of sleep apnea.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

There are common symptoms to look out for that may mean you are suffering from sleep apnea. Two of the most common symptoms are snoring loudly and feeling tired even after you've had a substantial amount of sleep. The following are further symptoms that could be signals that you have sleep apnea:

• Excessive tiredness during the daytime
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Headaches when you wake up
• Shortness of breath while sleeping
• Consistent restlessness while trying to sleep
• Snoring

Although it helps to be aware of these symptoms, it is still recommended that your condition be analyzed by a doctor. If you think that you might have sleep apnea, contact our San Antonio practice immediately for help on how to deal with it quickly to avoid any serious complications.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

Certain lifestyle habits may be changed to treat your sleep apnea on your own if you have a mild case. Making adjustments such as; quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, getting on a healthy diet, and changing sleeping positions, may help you treat a minor to mild case of sleep apnea. Allow your physician to judge how severe your sleep apnea is so that you may take the appropriate and most effective path of dealing with the issue.

One of the treatments for sleep apnea is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP involves wearing a special mask over the nose and mouth area while you sleep. The mask will be hooked to a machine that will provide a steady flow of air into your nose. Patients who are willing and able to sleep in the mask receive symptomatic relief from sleep apnea.

Another option when treating sleep apnea is SomnoMed, which is offered by Dr Chris Reger at Incredible Smiles of Texas. SomnoMed uses a customized small intra-oral appliance to maintain an open airway while sleeping. Patients who are unable to use their CPAP machines may choose to use a SomnoMed appliance.

We’ll Answer Your Questions

At Incredible Smiles of Texas, we are more than happy to attend to your concerns about any of our services. For further information on sleep apnea or sleep apnea treatments, please don’t hesitate to contact our San Antonio practice at any time that’s convenient for you.