"Honey, you were snoring like a freight train last night!" Sound familiar? Maybe your partner has started sleeping with earplugs, or you've been banished to the couch or guest bedroom more times than you'd like to admit. Around here, we love a good Texas-sized laugh, but nightly snoring isn't always something to brush off.
At Lakewood Dental Trails, we help patients from Temple, Belton, and surrounding Central Texas communities understand the connection between snoring and sleep apnea and explore treatment options for better breathing during sleep.
What Are the Signs That Snoring Might Be Sleep Apnea?
Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. However, loud, frequent snoring can signal obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that causes repeated breathing interruptions during sleep.
Watch for these common warning signs:
- Loud snoring that disrupts your partner's sleep
- Gasping, choking, or pauses in breathing overnight
- Morning headaches or a dry mouth
- Daytime fatigue despite a full night's sleep
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling unusually irritable
Feeling worn out before you've even enjoyed your morning coffee or made it to your morning run at Miller Springs Park? Poor sleep quality may play a role. Untreated sleep apnea can also contribute to serious health concerns, including high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems.
How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Your partner might be the first to notice something's wrong, but a medical professional makes the diagnosis. A sleep study measures breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and other sleep-related activity. Depending on your circumstances, your doctor may recommend an overnight laboratory study or a home sleep apnea test. The results help determine the presence and severity of sleep apnea and guide appropriate treatment.
How Can a Dentist Help After a Diagnosis?
Here's some encouraging news! For certain patients, sleep apnea treatment in Temple, TX, doesn't always involve wearing a CPAP mask. At Lakewood Dental Trails, Dr. Amanda Craig provides custom oral appliance therapy for suitable patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. These removable devices gently reposition your lower jaw forward to help maintain an open airway while you sleep.
Dr. Craig works with your physician, evaluates your teeth and jaw, and takes digital impressions to create a personalized appliance. Follow-up appointments help monitor comfort, fit, and treatment effectiveness. Oral appliances aren't suitable for everyone, and CPAP remains an important treatment option, particularly for more severe cases.
Let's Talk About Better Sleep!
From Belton Lake weekends to busy workdays in Temple, feeling rested makes everyday activities more enjoyable. Looking for a sleep apnea dentist in Belton, TX? Lakewood Dental Trails welcomes patients to our dental office in Temple.
Call (254) 206-3200 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Craig and learn more about oral appliance therapy.