If you’ve been experiencing severe sleep interruptions, should you visit a regular doctor or a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea? If you suspect you have sleep apnea, it may be necessary to visit a medical professional who has experience treating this condition.
A dentist can evaluate your health and help determine factors that lead to sleep apnea while providing you with solutions that can help you get your health on track.
Treatment Options
Depending on how severe your condition is, there are several treatments to choose from. In severe sleep apnea cases, a sleep doctor may suggest that you use a CPAP machine at night to prevent breathing interruptions. A CPAP machine isn’t for everyone, so you may need an oral appliance that a sleep apnea dentist will customize for you. An appliance may be a better option for you if you don’t want a mask covering your face while you sleep.
Visiting a Doctor
When you begin to notice that you have a sleep apnea issue or your significant other informs you that you’re snoring, you may want to make an appointment with your primary care physician. After you explain your symptoms, your doctor will recommend a home sleep study to formally diagnose you. The test will determine if you are suffering from sleep apnea and how severe the condition is. After the doctor goes over the test results, they will offer effective treatment options that may include a CPAP machine or a referral to a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea treatments.
When you visit with a sleep dentist, they will consult with your regulation doctor to come up with comprehensive treatment for your sleep disturbances.
Adjustments in Diagnosis Methods for Dentists
Previously, sleep apnea dental specialists would refer a patient to a sleep physician for further evaluation. However, many patients are hesitant to visit a sleep doctor since an assessment usually requires an overnight sleep study.
Due to the advancements in dental sleep medicine, dentists can assign a home-based sleep study for patients. These studies record all necessary information for the dentist to make a professional and accurate diagnosis. When the patient brings the kit back to the dentist’s office, the details are studied and the dentist puts a treatment plan together. The right treatment can improve the patient’s sleep patterns significantly and can even be life-saving.
Reasons to See a Sleep Apnea Dental Specialist
Sleep apnea dentists, also known as sleep dentists, are dental experts with a concentration in the theory and technique of using oral devices to improve a patient’s sleep quality. These dentists are especially helpful for people with inconsistent breathing during sleep. If your sleep disturbances have been ongoing, you should visit a sleep apnea dentist to determine if you have the condition and what you can do to treat it.
Signs of Unmanaged Sleep Apnea
Sleep disorders can lead to severe health complications or indicate that a health issue is already present. For instance, people who suffer from heart disease and obesity are more likely to have sleep apnea. These conditions can have a significant impact on your quality of life, so it’s important for a healthcare professional to provide the treatment you need before the problem worsens.
It is crucial for dentists to be familiar with sleep apnea symptoms and evaluate patients who are showing signs of the condition during appointments. Mastication muscles that are extremely sensitive, restricted airway, and a neck circumference that is larger than usual could be signs that you have sleep apnea; the dentist will check for these symptoms during your evaluation.
The dentist will also ask you questions pertaining to your sleep patterns and how you’ve been feeling. If you’ve been experiencing:
-fatigue during the day
-headaches
-dry mouth
-sore throat
-trouble sleeping
If you show any of these symptoms during your assessment, you likely need to take a sleep study kit home and use it to pinpoint the cause of your sleep issues.
Be sure to speak with your doctor as soon as you notice that you’re consistently having sleep issues. A doctor can assist you in understanding the difference between sleep interruptions due to insomnia or disruption caused by an airway blockage. Making an appointment promptly can help you find a viable solution for sleep apnea that could save your life.
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