Get Restful Sleep Again
If you're not resting at night, you may suffer from sleep apnea, snoring, or other airway issues. We're here to help.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
When your airway is narrow, you or your partner may notice that you snore.
Snoring is often no greater problem than the noise itself. However, loud snoring may be a sign of a more serious problem – obstructive sleep apnea.
OSA occurs when the airway becomes completely blocked and breathing stops. The brain then detects the lack of oxygen and prompts a momentary arousal to draw breath.
Although OSA sufferers may experience hundreds of apnea episodes per night, they are unlikely to remember any of them. If the sufferer lives alone or sleeps separately, they may not be aware of their condition, even after many years.
Do You Have OSA?
You may have sleep apnea if you experience these symptoms:
- Feel unrefreshed upon waking
- Feel sleepy during the day
- Cannot concentrate and retain information
Do You Have Insomnia?
When you can’t sleep properly, it's easy to get sleep conditions confused.
Patients often complain of insomnia but the only way to be sure which sleep condition you have is to see a sleep physician. They can perform a test to see if you suffer from this condition.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring occurs when the soft tissues at the back of your throat become too relaxed and vibrate.
The vibrations caused by your breathing result in the snoring sound.
Several other factors could contribute to cause your snoring:
- A narrow airway: due to your natural build
- Weight gain or a large neck: this puts pressure on your airway passage
- Alcohol: relaxes the soft tissues in your airway
- Age: muscle tone decreases as you get older
- Sleep posture: sleeping on your back encourages the muscles at the back of your throat to relax
- Obstructive sleep apnea: which snoring is a symptom
Splint Therapy
Find splint therapy for TMJ and sleep apnea at Sleep Well Dickson. These splints act as the cornerstone and most crucial element of our TMJ treatment procedure.
You know how much it can impact your daily life if you suffer from TMJ problems or sleep apnea. But don't worry — splints can be a game-changer for you. They can help alleviate TMJ and sleep apnea symptoms, stabilize your bite, and protect your teeth from damage and wear.
The main goal of splint therapy is to restore your jaw-muscle function and decrease related pain by establishing a balanced bite. This type of mouth splint is specifically designed to minimize pressure on your jaw joints and teeth, training your jaw muscles to relax and lessening the tension on your joint's internal and surrounding tissues.
A splint cushions your teeth and jawline, allowing your jaw and mouth to restore its natural alignment, mainly during resting state and when the joint isn't fully engaged. As a result, it relaxes the muscles in your bite, neckline and shoulders.
We're committed to providing you with the best sleep apnea treatment at Sleep Well Dickson. If you have any questions about splint therapy, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Get Relief With Breathe Ezz
Breathe Ezz is a revolutionary system that can help you breathe better. The system consists of an oral appliance that can expand and tone airways, improve your sleep, correct issues with facial development, and more!
As one of only three Breathe Ezz providers in the state, Dr. Gatgens can use this tool to help you get your life back. Breathe Ezz is an excellent solution for patients dealing with:
- Bruxing
- Facial asymmetry
- TMD
- Mid-facial underdevelopment
- Sleep-disordered breathing
- And more!
Contact our office to find out if Breathe Ezz would be right for you.
Sleep-disordered Breathing Help for Kids
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is an all-inclusive term for breathing difficulties, ranging from mild snoring to severe airway obstruction during sleep.
When your child’s breathing is disrupted, his or her body recognizes the disruption, much like choking. This slows the heart rate, raises blood pressure, arouses the brain, and ultimately disrupts sleep.
Traditionally, there have been very few answers to treating this issue, but Dr. Gatgens treats these issues using Healthy Start to treat these issues.