Sleep Apnea Treatment in Thousand Oaks, California

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that can lead to several serious health problems if left untreated. Sleep apnea happens when you sleep and your breathing becomes shallow or stops for short periods. This can cause you to wake up briefly or keep you from getting the therapeutic benefits of sleep.

If you are living with sleep apnea and suffering from its effects, it’s time to take action.

Luckily, our team at Lombard Dental Studio is here to help. As dental professionals with special training in dealing with patients suffering from sleep apnea and other related conditions, we are prepared to provide support and treatment plans to improve your quality of life.

We understand how frightening it can be to hear these words: sleep apnea, surgery, airways, breathing tubes... 

But rest assured—we've seen a lot of patients in your position go on to live happy and healthy lives after receiving treatment for their specific needs.

This article will discuss the risks of untreated sleep apnea, common warning signs, possible treatments, and resources for people with this condition.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a severe sleep condition in which your breathing stops or becomes extremely shallow while you sleep. Sleep apnea causes people to stop breathing for brief periods hundreds of times every night.

When your body doesn't get enough oxygen, it causes you to wake up and often makes it very hard to go back to sleep. Sleep apnea can cause you to wake up feeling tired, make it hard to think, and even raise your risk for car accidents and heart disease.

Getting diagnosed and treated for sleep apnea can reduce those risks. Doctors treat sleep apnea with lifestyle changes, oral appliances, or surgery.

How Dangerous Is Sleep Apnea?

While many people with sleep apnea are not diagnosed or treated for their symptoms, sleep apnea leads to several serious health problems if left untreated.

Sleep apnea is associated with a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease and is a significant cause of high blood pressure.

Sleep problems, like those caused by sleep apnea, have also been linked to a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes and metabolic disorders in general. 

What is Dental Sleep Medicine?

Dental sleep medicine is a branch of dentistry that specializes in helping patients with sleep apnea, other sleep disorders, and related conditions. Dental sleep medicine providers, usually dentists, are trained to diagnose a patient's symptoms and suggest the proper treatment.

Dental sleep medicine providers also help patients identify and address other potential contributors to their symptoms, including snoring, clenching, or grinding teeth.

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, several treatments are available to help improve your quality of life and reduce the effects of sleep apnea. Based on how bad your sleep apnea is, your doctor may suggest one or more of the following treatments:

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

This is the most common treatment for sleep apnea and is most often prescribed by dentists. CPAP is a device that delivers a stream of air through a mask or nosepiece connected to your airway. In many cases, a dentist will recommend a custom oral appliance to treat sleep apnea.

Depending on your specific symptoms and needs, your dentist may prescribe a bite plate, a tongue-retention device, a mandibular repositioning device (MRD), or a hybrid appliance. Sometimes, your dentist may recommend a palate repositioning surgery to improve airflow through your airway.

What is the Role of Dentists in Treating Sleep Apnea?

As specialists in oral health and sleep apnea, dentists are an excellent resource for patients living with sleep apnea. 

Our team at Lombard Dental Studio is highly trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. Our staff will work with your doctor to determine the best treatment for your specific needs, making the care and treatment process as simple as possible. 

Our team members can also help you identify and address other potential contributors to your symptoms, such as snoring, clenching, or grinding the teeth. We encourage you to contact our team today if you live with sleep apnea and related symptoms. 

At Lombard Dental Studio, we are ready and willing to help you regain your health and quality of life.

Lombard Dental Studio’s Dental Commitment To Patients

We are committed to providing high-quality service to every patient who walks through our doors. That is why our office offers dental services, especially sleep apnea treatment.

Our high skilled and trained team of dental professionals have been providing this service for more than a decade now. We understand that choosing between preventive, restorative, apicoectomy, oral surgery, sedation, sleep apnea treatment, orthodontic, or cosmetic dentistry procedure for yourself can be extremely difficult and overwhelming at the same time.

There are many things to consider, including the procedure type, cost, treatment duration, and recovery time. To help you get started on this incredible journey of beautiful smiles, we have compiled some information regarding the dental cleanings and exams we offer at Lombard Dental Studio in Thousand Oaks, California.