Sleep Apnea Treatment in Woodbridge

Is Sleep Apnea an Illness?

Technically, it’s caused by physiological issues and is called a sleep disorder. It’s not contagious, but when left untreated, it can have serious consequences for your overall health. Those who have it may find themselves perpetually exhausted with flu-like symptoms that dissipate during the day. They may experience symptoms of sleep deprivation that include impaired judgment, irritability, and lack of mental acuity. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, then call our Woodbridge office for an appointment with a dentist who can help you pinpoint your sleep apnea causes, eliminate your symptoms, and restore your health.

Are There Specific Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea?

If you have this sleep disorder, then there are several symptoms that you may have but be unaware of. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Gasping or choking that wakes you
• A headache when you awaken
• Breathing pauses during sleep
• Frequent, intense snoring
• Sleepiness during the daytime
• Waking with a dry mouth or sore throat

If you experience any of these, then call our Woodbridge dental office for an appointment and let us help you.

How Do I Know If I Have Sleep Apnea in Woodbridge?

This sleep disorder can affect anyone at any age, but it typically occurs in males who are more than 40 years old. Additional factors that can influence the onset of the disorder include:

• A family history of the disorder
• Being overweight
• Having a neck that’s greater than 16 inches

If these conditions apply to you and you have the above symptoms, then call our Woodbridge office for an appointment. We can help you eliminate the issues that are causing you to lose sleep and not feel well.

Why Does This Disorder Occur Only at Night?

During your waking hours, your neck muscles are tense and stiff, which maintains your trachea in an open position and the air flows freely. When you sleep, however, your neck muscles relax and this can restrict the free flow of air into and out of your lungs. The body’s response to the restricted airflow can be gasping or choking or a headache due to lack of oxygen, and a perpetual feeling of lethargy and lack of mental acuity. If you’re having these symptoms, then call our Woodbridge office for more information or to schedule an appointment.

What’s the Sleep Apnea Treatment Regimen?

If you have a mild case of this disorder, simple lifestyle changes can help, such as losing weight or sleeping on your side. However, if this doesn’t help, then we may have an oral appliance that will alleviate your symptoms. If your oral appliance for sleep apnea in Woodbridge isn’t effective, then you may require surgery to correct the disorder. The best method for treating your symptoms effectively will start with an appointment to determine the severity of your disorder, so call our office today and let’s get started.

Dental Appliances

What Types of Appliances Are Used for Sleep Disorders?

A sleep apnea mouthpiece is similar to a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer. It’s worn only during sleep, and it works by maintaining the proper alignment of your jaw and tongue while you’re asleep. Since sleep apnea symptoms occur because of misalignment of your jaw and tongue, a sleep apnea mouth guard can eliminate your symptoms.

Is an Oral Appliance Expensive?

The cost for your appliance will be unique to you since it’s custom made to your unique specifications. The final price will depend on the type of appliance you select and any insurance coverage you have, both medical and dental. For more information specific to you, then call our Woodbridge office and we’ll be happy to answer them.

Would Oral Appliance Therapy Treatment Help Me?

We’ve found that many of our patients can benefit from oral appliance therapy, or OAT. The device is easy to care for, it’s portable, and it’s non-invasive. All of these benefits and more appeal to many of our patients, so we recommend OAT for many of our patients with this sleep disorder. If you’d like to learn more about OAT, then call our Woodbridge office and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Does My Insurance Cover Oral Appliance Therapy?

Your insurance plan benefits will be unique to you and the best source of information on your benefits is your plan provider, but we’ll be happy to answer any general questions you have.

A sleep disorder is a serious condition that shouldn’t be ignored. You may suffer the symptoms of sleep deprivation and you’ll probably have a lack of oxygen to your body, so you may lose mental acuity and may experience impaired judgment. Both of these can adversely impact your overall health, so if you’re suffering from a sleep disorder, then call Dental One Associates of Woodbridge at (703) 910-5020 and schedule an appointment. We’re known in the area for providing sleep disorder treatments and we’d love to help you regain your overall good health and a good night’s sleep, so call us today. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you.