Sleep Apnea Treatments in Schaumburg, IL

Do you suffer from low blood oxygen levels while you are asleep? Sleep apnea is a common health condition that can be treated if it is properly diagnosed. Many people aren’t aware that their health problems are related to sleep apnea, so they don’t seek the proper treatments. It is important that you are aware of the symptoms of sleep apnea, in order to obtain the right treatments to help you overcome this medical condition.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

There are several types of sleep apnea, and your dentist or oral surgeon might be able to help with the treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. This health condition means that you have something blocking your airway while you are asleep, resulting in a situation where the airflow stops and limits oxygen levels at night.

Often, obstructive sleep apnea is caused by excess tissue, a large tongue, or large tonsils that get in the way of the breathing. When the tissue blocks the airflow, then the brain oxygen levels get lower because the breathing is stopped. So, the body automatically wakes the person up in order to restart the breathing process. It is possible for a person to do this 30 more times each night, which can lead to a number of other health conditions.

Treating Sleep Apnea

If sleep apnea is left untreated, then it could possibly lead to other health problems, including: drowsiness throughout the day, decreased libido, heart disease, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, stroke, depression, loss of concentration, and heart attack. So, it is important that you seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid these complications of sleep apnea.

Depending on your situation, an oral surgeon might be able to help. Usually non-invasive treatments are suggested first, such as oral appliances or behavior modification. If the symptoms continue, then it might be necessary to have surgery. But, you need to talk with your oral surgeon about the treatment options that are right for you, because this surgery isn’t always successful for every patient.

Oral surgery might be able to help with sleep apnea by repositioning the jaw to open the airflow while the person is asleep. Or, an uvulo-palato-pharyngo-plasty (UPPP) can be performed on the throat and soft palate.

For more information about sleep apnea treatments, we invite you to contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more. Our experienced team is always here to answer your questions and help with anything that you need. Call us today!