Sleep Apnea Treatment

Effective Sleep Apnea Treatment at Endres Gateway Dentistry

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. It can be characterized by severe chronic snoring and difficulty breathing during the night.

These symptoms occur as a result of pinched or closed air passages in the back of the throat. If the tissues in those airways become too relaxed, or the positioning of the jaw and tongue is misaligned, the sleeper can actually stop breathing altogether.

The brain has one last recourse to solve this; the sleeper wakes up long enough to take in a deep breath and open up those air passages once again. In very minor apnea cases, this only happens a few times a night. However, sufferers of more severe apnea can wake as many as hundreds of times each night.

This results in severely interrupted sleep and chronic daytime exhaustion. Apnea is also linked to several more severe health problems like high blood pressure and heart problems as a result of low oxygen intake. Not to mention the disturbance it can cause your partner, or yourself, if you can’t stop snoring.

Dr. Endres helped diagnose my sleep apnea and get it to a manageable point so that I no longer feel tired all the time. Thank you!! ~ Jessica C.

 
Dr. Endres was featured on the Cincy Live TV show to explain how dentists can help individuals get a better night’s sleep by creating a custom sleep apnea appliance.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed because so many of the symptoms happen in the middle of the night, while you are asleep. However, there are several clear symptoms to take note of, including the following:

• Frequent, heavy snoring.
• Waking up feeling tired, even after a full night’s sleep.
• Difficulty focusing throughout the day, even after plenty of sleep.
• Often experiencing a dry mouth or a sore throat after waking up. 
• Regularly experiencing headaches in the morning.
• Insomnia, or general difficulty staying asleep.
• Regularly waking up abruptly in the night, especially while gasping or feeling breathless.

If you often experience any of these symptoms—especially many of these symptoms at once—it’s very possible that you’re experiencing sleep apnea. The next step is to visit our dental team for an official diagnosis and a treatment plan that will help you conquer your sleep apnea.

These sleep apnea symptoms can often lead to more serious health issues which is why it is important to address the problem before it become more harmful to your health. Reach out to Endres Gateway Dentistry for more information.

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

If you suspect that someone you care about has sleep apnea, it’s important to get a professional diagnosis as soon as possible. 

A prompt sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment plan can have an almost immediate positive impact on your health and sleep habits!  

Why Should You Visit Dr. Endres for Your Sleep Apnea Diagnosis?

Sleep specialists and dentists are both qualified to diagnose sleep apnea, but there are several reasons why we think you’ll benefit from getting your diagnosis right here in our office. 

It often takes an extensive sleep study to properly diagnose this condition, but Endres Gateway Dentistry has an amazing offer available to you instead. Rather than having to do an in-office study, we have a device that we lend out, so you can do a sleep study right in the comfort of your own home. 

Many of our patients appreciate the convenience of being able to get a diagnosis without having to sleep away from home in uncomfortable environments. With the results from that study, we are able not only to diagnose sleep apnea but also to prepare a treatment plan that will be unique to you.

We then present both the diagnosis and the treatment plan to a sleep apnea physician who can then approve the plan and actually prescribe the appropriate treatment per Ohio state law.

If you’re interested in an accurate, convenient sleep apnea diagnosis, come to our office! We offer easy, stress-free diagnoses that will get you started down the path to better sleep and better health.

Sleep Apnea Treatment – Custom Oral Appliances

Here at Endres Gateway Dentistry, we have multiple options for treating sleep apnea, so we can find the treatment that works best for each individual situation.

At Endres Gateway Dentistry we offers a sleep apnea oral appliance that can sometimes be used in place of a CPAP. This device is small, portable, easy to maintain, and requires no electricity. 

The oral appliance is simply a custom-designed guard that fits into your mouth. This appliance holds the teeth, jaw, and tongue in a position that prevents airways from closing during the night. Whether your symptoms stem from sleep apnea or not, this oral appliance can help you to stop snoring and start sleeping soundly all the way through the night.

Because we use iTero digital impression technologies, we can generate highly accurate and detailed impressions of your teeth for your oral appliance without the need for messy molds! 

Dr. Endres in particular has years of experience in using oral appliances to treat sleep apnea, and you can expect to receive all the benefits of her knowledge in the design and application of your oral appliance. 

We are proud to offer this advanced technology and convenience for our patients.
 

Alternative to CPAP Machines

The traditional treatment method for obstructive sleep apnea is the CPAP machine. This device pumps air through your passageways as you sleep, which keeps them open and makes sure you receive plenty of oxygen. 

A CPAP machine—which stands for “continuous positive airway pressure”—consists of a compressor, which sits next to a patient’s bed, and a breathing apparatus. This apparatus is a mask that is sealed around a patient’s nose and mouth and keeps airflow going to your brain whether you stop breathing or not.

The CPAP is extremely effective and can treat even severe sleep apnea. However, it is also a lot to deal with for some patients. CPAP machines are difficult to travel with and can be cumbersome to wear during the night, since they must be worn over the face and stay connected to the compressor at all times.

CPAP machines can also be noisy, which makes a mouth guard a great option for those who might share a room or a bed with a light sleeper. 

Benefits of Treating Sleep Apnea

There are numerous reasons why you should seek treatment for sleep apnea, ranging from quality of life benefits and drastic improvement of potentially life threatening harm if it goes untreated for a long amount of time. They include:

Better Sleep: This almost goes without saying! Sleep apnea dramatically impacts your ability to have restful sleep due to disturbances in sleep patterns and lack of oxygen. By treating sleep apnea, you wake up more rested with improvements to your energy and alertness.

A Happier Partner: Treating your sleep apnea and getting rid of loud snoring and sleep disturbances is almost always greatly appreciated by your partner, helping them to get better sleep too. It’s a win-win for both of you!

Decreased Susceptibility to Depression: Studies have shown that people with chronic sleep disturbances caused by issues such as sleep apnea correlates with a significantly higher chance of having depression. Better sleep leads to better endorphin levels and higher peace of mind.

Lowering Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke: Arguably one of the biggest benefits of sleep apnea treatment is removing the damage it can cause which leads to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke due to chronic low levels of oxygen during sleep.

Lowering Mortality: Sleep apnea has been shown to have significant impacts on overall mortality from other illnesses and disorders, as much as three times! Quality sleep and oxygen is an all around great thing for helping you live a longer, healthier life!
 

Sleep Apnea FAQs

Does My Medical Insurance Cover Treatment?

In many cases, medical insurance includes coverage for sleep apnea appliances. However, the cost of the appliance is typically less than the insurance plan deductible. As most people do not meet their deductibles, most patients pay out of pocket for the full cost of the sleep apnea appliance. Every insurance policy is different, so depending on your type of coverage will determine total benefits.

You are ultimately responsible to understand what your insurance plan will and will not cover and to cover any payments not covered by your insurance provider. We are also happy to reach out to your insurance provider on your behalf to get an estimate of the benefits they will provide under your plan.

Dr. Endres works with all Medical PPO plans for sleep apnea treatment as an out-of-network provider, and her team will submit claims on your behalf. Call us at 513-322-3501 for more details.

Will Sleep Apnea Resolve Itself?

It can be reassuring to assume a health problem you’re facing will eventually take care of itself. Unfortunately, unlike a cold or a headache, sleep apnea very rarely goes away on its own. It’s a serious medical condition that can worsen with time, so it’s important to receive professional treatment as soon as possible!

Who Is Most Likely to Have Sleep Apnea?

There are a few demographic and lifestyle effects that can increase or decrease your odds of experiencing sleep apnea. Men are significantly more likely to experience sleep apnea than women, for example. People are also more likely to experience sleep apnea as they age, and overweight people are more likely to experience it than people who are a healthy weight.

However, there are often exceptions. It’s possible for anyone to experience sleep apnea, regardless of gender, age, or weight, which is why it’s important to recognize the symptoms and know what to do next.

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

If you suspect that someone you care about has sleep apnea, it’s important to get a professional diagnosis as soon as possible. 

A prompt sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment plan can have an almost immediate positive impact on your health and sleep habits!  

Why Should You Visit Dr. Endres for Your Sleep Apnea Diagnosis?

Sleep specialists and dentists are both qualified to diagnose sleep apnea, but there are several reasons why we think you’ll benefit from getting your diagnosis right here in our office. 

It often takes an extensive sleep study to properly diagnose this condition, but Endres Gateway Dentistry has an amazing offer available to you instead. Rather than having to do an in-office study, we have a device that we lend out, so you can do a sleep study right in the comfort of your own home. 

Many of our patients appreciate the convenience of being able to get a diagnosis without having to sleep away from home in uncomfortable environments. With the results from that study, we are able not only to diagnose sleep apnea but also to prepare a treatment plan that will be unique to you.

We then present both the diagnosis and the treatment plan to a sleep apnea physician who can then approve the plan and actually prescribe the appropriate treatment per Ohio state law.

If you’re interested in an accurate, convenient sleep apnea diagnosis, come to our office! We offer easy, stress-free diagnoses that will get you started down the path to better sleep and better health.

Talk to Us Today

If you think that you may be suffering from sleep apnea or just want to stop snoring, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away at our Montgomery office! We are more than happy to answer any questions about our sleep study program and to set you up for a diagnosis if you are in the Cincinnati area, including Blue Ash and Loveland.

Call Us: 513-791-8880

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