If you are seeking treatment for mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, visit Henrich Dental in Tulsa, OK. Tulsa dentist Dr. Frank Henrich offers personalized, effective solutions for patients dealing with sleep apnea. Dr. Henrich dedicates hours of continuous training to deliver exceptional care. To learn more about your treatment options, call (918) 208-0273 or visit Henrich Dental in Tulsa, OK.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious health concern that affects millions of people. Because sleep apnea occurs during sleep, most people with sleep apnea do not realize they have sleep apnea until the visit a specialist. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the tongue and soft tissues block the airway, which restricts oxygen flow to the lungs. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea may repeatedly stop and start breathing throughout their sleep cycle. Due to the lack of oxygen, patients with obstructive sleep apnea may also experience a racing heart, lack of oxygen to major organs, and panic when waking up.
What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, you may want to consider visiting a sleep apnea specialist. Sleep apnea is a serious health concern that should only be treated by a highly trained and experienced professional.
- Snoring
- Hypertension
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Dry mouth or a sore throat in the morning
- Irritability
- Obesity
- Gasping, choking or coughing during sleep
- Fatigue
- Headaches or migraines (especially in the morning)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Insomnia
Tulsa dentist, Dr. Henrich works with local sleep apnea specialists to help screen, diagnose, and treat sleep apnea. To diagnose sleep apnea patients may need to undergo a sleep study. Once sleep apnea is diagnosed, Dr. Henrich can work with you to find a comfortable, effective solution to improve your quality of sleep.
What are the risks of sleep apnea?
There are several factors that may increase your risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea:
- A narrowed airway
- A family history of sleep apnea
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Large neck circumference
- Being male
What are the treatments for sleep apnea?
The most common solution for treating obstructive sleep apnea is the CPAP machine. However, many patients prefer the comfort and convenience of oral appliance therapy (OAT). Dr. Henrich offers oral appliance therapy in our Tulsa, OK dental office. Oral appliance for sleep apnea is similar to a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer.
Oral appliance for sleep apnea prevents the tongue and soft tissue from collapsing. Oral appliances may be used in conjunction with other sleep apnea treatments. Dr. Henrich will work with you one of one to determine if oral appliance therapy is right for you.