Sleep Apnea Treatment | Seattle dentist near Wallingford, Gasworks Park

One of the important sleeping disorders, Sleep Apnea, causes the individual to suffer breathing problems at night or choking while sleeping.

There are two types of sleep apnea. Incomplete or partial airway obstructions cause breathing pauses or reductions during obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). As a result of problems with the brain or neurological system, the person faces difficulty breathing at night if they have central sleep apnea (CSA).

Fortunately, Dr. Sue Vetter in Seattle will examine your issue at our clinic and give you the best sleep apnea treatment available.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Primary signs of sleep apnea:

Loud, continuous snoring
Snorting, gasping, or choking when you’re asleep
You will always feel worn out and sleepy during the day, regardless of how much time you spend in bed.

Additional signs:

Waking up with a painful throat or dry mouth
Daytime headache
Insomnia, nightly awakenings, or restless sleep
Feeling out of breath when you awaken at night
Frequently using the bathroom at night

How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

Dr. Sue Vetter will conduct a diagnosis focusing on your indications and symptoms and a sleep history, which you can share with support from a bed partner or member of your household, if possible. You’ll probably be sent to a facility for sleep disorders. There, a specialist for sleep apnea will assist you in deciding whether you require additional testing. A sleep center will frequently keep track of your breathing and other bodily functions as you sleep for the duration of an evaluation. There may also be a choice for at-home sleep testing.

Treatment:

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

The most effective OSA treatment is continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP. Our dentist will use a CPAP machine, which provides air pressure through a mask while you sleep if you have mild to chronic sleep apnea. With CPAP, the air pressure is just enough to maintain your upper airway passages open, avoiding apnea and snoring. It is slightly higher than the air pressure in the room.

Other Airway Pressure Devices

Our dentist will employ a different kind of airway pressure device that instantly adapts the pressure while you’re sleeping if using a CPAP machine is not suitable for you (auto-CPAP). At our dental services in Seattle, we also have BPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) unit options.

Oral Appliances

Using an oral appliance to keep your neck open is an additional choice at our dental services. Oral appliances may be simpler to use, but CPAP is more consistently effective. Some are designed to assist you in opening your throat by shifting your jaw forward, which can sometimes aid with mild obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.

Our dental care facility has a variety of tools. Before choosing one, you might need to try a few alternative options.

Surgery

Typically, surgery is an option only when all other forms of treatment have failed. Before choosing surgery, it is typically advised to try treatment options for at least three months. However, it’s a solid first choice for a limited proportion of persons with specific jaw structure issues. Our doctors may also remove your tonsils and uvula in addition to removing soft tissue from the back of your palate (the soft tissue that hangs down the back of your throat). Your nose, other soft tissues, or your jawbones may be the subject of other operations.

After diagnosing sleep apnea, our specialist will lay out your treatment course. It is recommended to make another appointment with our dentist or sleep specialist if you’re having trouble sticking with treatment, like CPAP therapy, to determine whether it’s time to stop the regimen and what other dental health procedures they advise trying next.

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