Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can cause snoring and daytime sleepiness, along with high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke.
If you live with this harmful condition, it's likely that you — and your partner — aren't getting a lot of rest.
Dr. Billie Adams at Peak Family Dentistry in Albuquerque, NM, can help you find relief from sleep apnea with treatments such as oral appliance therapy.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
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Sleep apnea occurs when your airways are obstructed during sleep, causing you to wake throughout the night. It can lead to hazardous complications, or even death. Though the idea of living with this condition may cause you anxiety, it is treatable with the help of sleep medicine — and our team.
The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Each symptom of sleep apnea should be taken seriously. If you experience a combination of the items on this list, visit Peak Family Dentistry in Albuquerque, NM, for an initial consultation.
- Snoring
- Waking throughout the night
- Poor sleep quality
- Headaches after you wake up
- Dry mouth
- Daytime sleepiness
The 3 Main Types of Sleep Apnea
If you live with sleep apnea, you likely have one of the two more common types. Each form of this sleep disorder causes the same main symptom, an inability to breathe properly — just in different ways.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This is the most frequently diagnosed type of sleep apnea. It leads the muscles in the back of your throat to relax, obstructing your upper airway as its name suggests. Then, since no oxygen can flow through your airway, you may begin snoring or startle awake without knowing why.
Central Sleep Apnea
Central sleep apnea results from faulty brain activity. Essentially, your mind will try to relay the command to breathe, but the signal doesn't reach the muscles of your airways or your lungs. If your body cannot successfully take in oxygen you will likely awaken so you can breathe in earnest.
Mixed Sleep Apnea
Some people experience both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. These two sleep disorders can co-occur, resulting in something known as mixed sleep apnea. While it's rarer, some patients do experience this version of sleep apnea.
The Dangers of Sleep Apnea
If you have central or obstructive sleep apnea, it may only be the beginning of your problems. Because it has such a strong impact on your upper airways, breathing, and even blood flow, sleep apnea worsens the risks of:
- High Blood Pressure
- Low Oxygen Levels
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
Exploring Your Sleep Apnea Treatment Options At Peak Family Dentistry
Are you wary of a loud, cumbersome CPAP device? They're not the only sleep apnea treatment out there — and when you visit Dr. Adams, you'll go beyond machines that dispense continuous positive airway pressure. Instead, Albuquerque, NM, sleep apnea patients can choose from three different effective options to protect their health and improve their rest:
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy uses a custom-fitted, removable mouthpiece called a mandibular advancement appliance to alleviate the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. This option is less involved than a CPAP machine, and it requires less maintenance, too.
It repositions your jaw and tongue, allowing oxygen to steadily flow through your upper airway during sleep. Peak Family Dentistry can take your digital impressions, send them to a lab, and provide you with a custom-crafted mouthpiece.
Maxillary-Assisted Rapid Palate Expansion
With maxillary assisted rapid palate expansion (MARPE), we place an expander inside your upper jaw area. Attached to mini-screws anchored to your palate, this adjustable device will work to permanently stretch the palate area. This creates more space for your tongue to be properly positioned, and for air to enter and leave.
You'll incrementally increase the span of the expander once per day. Then, you'll keep the expander in for a few more months to allow the area to heal and the results to stabilize. Once the treatment is complete, you will likely be able to breathe better at night.
Tongue-Tie Treatment
Another option we offer for sleep apnea is tongue-tie treatment. Our doctor performs this procedure to address a common contributor to sleep apnea: the position of your tongue. In some patients the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is too tight, which means the tongue's resting position can hinder breathing.
Also called a frenectomy, tongue-tie treatment allows your tongue to sit in a less obstructive position as you sleep. Frenectomy simply involves a small incision in the band underneath your tongue. Afterwards, you may be able to breathe more deeply at night.
Oral Appliance Therapy in Action
Enough of sleepless nights and exhausting days. Dr. Billie Adams can improve your obstructive sleep apnea, nighttime breathing, and quality of sleep with oral appliance therapy using a mandibular advancement appliance like this one. After receiving your sleep study results, you can begin the journey at Peak Family Dentistry in Albuquerque, NM.
What Is Sleep Medicine — And How Can It Help Me?
Dental sleep medicine is an area of dentistry that focuses on improving a patient’s quality of sleep through oral therapy. Oral therapy is often a great benefit to patients that suffer from obstructive sleep apnea.
Ready to begin your treatment?
Dr. Billie Adams provides dental sleep medicine for your sleep apnea using a mandibular advancement appliance. To get started, contact our family-owned Albuquerque, NM, office or call us at:
(505) 293-2211
Start Resting Soundly Again
We Truly Care —
And It Makes All the Difference
Nancy Soules
Albuquerque, NM
2024
Always compassionate, professional and excellent care.
View on GoogleFawn Hanson
Albuquerque, NM
2024
Everyone here was very friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. I felt both comfortable and cared for. I’m really impressed!
View on GoogleSleep Apnea Patients Go to Dr. Adams for a Solution
If you think you have sleep apnea, you don't want to go to just any doctor. Instead, you should invest in your health by choosing Dr. Billie Adams, who maintains a focus in airway dentistry. From training to techniques, our compassionate dentist can treat Albuquerque sleep apnea patients of all ages.
One of her biggest accomplishments in the field of airway dentistry includes time at Tufts University to finish a Pediatric Dental Sleep Medicine Mini Residency. She also continues to improve her knowledge on software and obstructive sleep apnea treatment options during meetings with Dental Sleep Solutions.
Whether you're seeking treatment for yourself, your child, or your partner, Dr. Adams may be able to assist.
An Albuquerque Sleep Apnea Patient's Review
"This was my first time at Peak Family Dentistry. The office was clean. Dr. Adams and her entire staff were very friendly, professional and welcoming. Dr. Adams and her assistant Adriana did a very thorough exam in regards to my TMJ, Sleep Apnea and Dental needs. They were very patient. I left the office feeling good and will return in a few weeks. I am very happy that I found a dentist that is compassionate and knowledgeable." Cecilia Sandoval
What Can Cause Sleep Apnea?
A variety of physical and lifestyle factors can contribute to sleep apnea. Though you cannot control them all, you can implement lifestyle changes to reduce the severity of your obstructive sleep apnea.
Some of the factors that can cause sleep apnea include:
- Large tonsils
- Nasal congestion
- Smoking
- Tapered airways
- Being overweight
- Family history of sleep apnea
How Can You Diagnose My Sleep Apnea?
From daytime exhaustion to keeping your partner up all night with your snoring, sleep apnea can truly take its toll. However, it's treatable!
First, though, you need a diagnosis. Here's how the process works for confirming you have a sleep disorder.
Patients trust Dr. Billie Adams to provide relief for their obstructive sleep apnea.
We're Always Happy To Help Our Patients
Terry Boulanger
Albuquerque, NM
2024
Great friendly and thorough service.
View on GoogleMichael Skolnick
Albuquerque, NM
2024
Excellent, as always
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