Maybe this sounds familiar: After a hard day of work, you make a concerted effort to go to bed a little earlier than usual. But you find that excessive snoring wakes you up periodically throughout the night, and you feel just as tired when you wake up the next day as you did the night before.

Believe it or not, this is a fairly common experience. It’s estimated that millions of adults are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder in which blockages of the airway interrupt your sleep — sometimes dozens of times a night or more.

If you’re experiencing a lack of quality sleep because of obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Juarez from Houston Uptown Dentists understands because she has seen it up close. After her husband was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, she went to work learning about the condition and finding ways to relieve his symptoms.

Dr. Juarez underwent extensive training to provide multiple sleep apnea treatments — including comfortable mouthguards and laser procedures to prevent airway obstruction. She even founded Sweet Dreams Sleep Solutions so she could take what she learned and help others in Houston, TX who are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea!

You don’t have to suffer through poor quality sleep. At Houston Uptown Dentists, we know that quality sleep is fundamental to a happy and healthy life, and we want to help you get the rest you deserve. Read on to learn more about the sleep apnea solutions we’re proud to offer. Then, give us a call at 832-463-1021 to schedule a consultation.

Your First Step Toward Better Sleep: The Diagnosis

Excessive snoring is sort of the classic symptom of sleep apnea — particularly if it’s keeping you or your partner awake at night. But some people actually never experience snoring as part of their sleep apnea, which is why it’s important to know the other symptoms as well.

Those include:

  • Waking up frequently feeling short of breath
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  • Morning headaches
  • Irritability or trouble focusing
  • Drowsing off during the day
  • Episodes where the sleeper stops breathing

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, your next step is to get an accurate diagnosis.

At Houston Uptown Dentists, we’re able to provide you with a sleep test you can take in the privacy of your own home. Many patients prefer this to conventional sleep studies, which often require a stay in a lab where technicians monitor you while you sleep.

Sleep Apnea Solutions

After we have a positive diagnosis, we’ll get to work finding your ideal sleep apnea solution. Traditionally, obstructive sleep apnea has been treated with the help of a CPAP (or continuous positive airway pressure) device. This machine consists of a mask that you wear under your nose and/or over your mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected via a tube to a pump, which regulates air flow into your nasal passage to prevent airway blockages.

At Houston Uptown Dentists, we believe that CPAP machines are great for relieving sleep apnea symptoms — particularly in severe cases — but we also offer alternatives to CPAP devices for patients who might be turned off by the thought of wearing a mask while they sleep.

This includes:

  • Custom-made oral appliances. These devices resemble athletic mouthguards that you simply insert right before bed. They’re comfortable and easy to use, and they’re also effective at treating mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea. They slightly adjust the position of your jaw to prevent airway blockages and relieve excessive snoring.
  • Nightlase™. This non-invasive procedure uses a gentle soft tissue laser to tighten tissue near the back of the throat to prevent airway blockages.

In addition to these options, Dr. Juarez can discuss with you ways to make the most of whatever treatment you choose. For example, lifestyle choices and weight loss can make CPAP machines and dental devices even more effective. According to Harvard Medical School, losing significant amounts of weight can cure obstructive sleep apnea altogether.

Get The Sleep You Deserve

Unmanaged sleep apnea can have serious consequences, which is why it’s so important to treat it if you suspect you have it. Unmanaged sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. It has also been linked to an increased likelihood of workplace-related and traffic-related accidents.

You owe it to yourself to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea and get the rest you deserve! And Houston Uptown Dentists can help you get there. Call us today at 832-463-1021 to schedule a consultation, or use our online form to request an appointment.