Frequently Asked Questions

Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in your throat relax too much during sleep, blocking your airway. This can be due to factors like weight, neck structure, or genetics. Without treatment, it can lead to serious health issues like heart disease or stroke. Treating it can significantly improve your quality of life and prevent long-term health problems.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but snoring is a common symptom. If your snoring is accompanied by choking or gasping for air during sleep, it’s important to get evaluated. Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, and addressing it early can prevent serious health complications.

Common signs include loud snoring, waking up gasping for air, excessive daytime fatigue, morning headaches, and trouble concentrating. If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to get checked for sleep apnea. Early treatment can prevent long-term health issues.

Yes, a sleep study provides the most accurate diagnosis by measuring your breathing patterns and other factors while you sleep. It’s a simple, non-invasive way to determine if you have sleep apnea and how severe it is, allowing us to recommend the best treatment for you.

Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It also causes daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. By treating sleep apnea, you can significantly lower these risks and improve your overall health and well-being.

Oral appliance therapy is a great alternative for those who find CPAP uncomfortable. It’s a custom-fitted device that repositions your jaw to keep your airway open during sleep. Many patients find it more comfortable, discreet, and easier to use than a CPAP machine.

Oral appliance therapy is highly effective for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Many patients experience a significant reduction in symptoms and an improvement in sleep quality. It’s also easier to travel with, making it a more convenient option for many.

As long as you have sleep apnea, treatment will be necessary to manage it. However, many patients find that the oral appliance is easy to use and becomes a natural part of their routine, especially once they experience the benefits of better sleep and overall health improvements.

Yes, sleep apnea has been linked to several serious health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. Treating sleep apnea can reduce these risks and improve your energy levels, mental clarity, and mood, allowing you to lead a healthier life.

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to worsening health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and an increased risk of accidents due to daytime drowsiness. The good news is that with proper treatment, such as oral appliance therapy, you can prevent these complications and enjoy restful sleep again.

Combo therapy for sleep apnea combines an oral appliance with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine to provide a more effective and comfortable treatment option. Here’s a brief explanation:

 

In this approach, a custom-fitted oral appliance is used to reposition the lower jaw slightly forward, which helps open the airway. The oral appliance is then fitted with an interface that connects directly to a CPAP machine’s hose (no more mask). This setup allows for:

 

  1. Lower CPAP pressure settings: The oral appliance helps keep the airway open, so the CPAP can operate at a lower, more comfortable pressure.
  2. Improved comfort: Patients can use a smaller nasal mask or nasal pillows instead of a full face mask, as the oral appliance helps prevent mouth breathing.
  3. Increased effectiveness: Studies show that combo therapy can reduce apnea events more effectively than CPAP alone.
  4. Better compliance: The increased comfort often leads to improved patient adherence to treatment.
  5. Convenience when traveling: Patients can use the oral appliance alone when CPAP use is impractical.

This combination approach is particularly beneficial for patients who struggle with traditional CPAP therapy or have incomplete relief from oral appliances alone. It offers a tailored solution that addresses multiple factors contributing to sleep apnea, potentially leading to more restful sleep and improved overall health.

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