We understand that sleep apnea is a serious and often-overlooked condition that can negatively impact your sleep, overall health, and quality of life. That’s why we’re proud to offer comprehensive sleep apnea treatment that addresses the root cause of your symptoms. Unlike most dental practices, we take a holistic approach to your oral care. So whether you’re struggling with snoring, daytime fatigue, or other signs of sleep apnea, you can count on Great White Dental to provide personalized care and support every step of the way.
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder where a person frequently stops and starts breathing while they sleep. These breathing pauses can last for seconds or even minutes, and they can happen more than 30 times per hour. The most common type of sleep apnea is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when a person’s throat muscles intermittently relax and block their airway during sleep.
Fortunately, sleep apnea is treatable with the help of dental professionals. At Great White Dental, we offer a variety of solutions to treat sleep apnea, including dental nightguards, airway therapy, and lifestyle changes. Our team of experts can work with you to determine the best treatment option based on your specific needs and preferences.
Excess weight
Excess weight is a major cause of sleep apnea. Fat tissue around the neck can block the airway, making it difficult to breathe. Losing even a small amount of weight can help to reduce sleep apnea symptoms.
Smoking
Smoking is another major cause of sleep apnea. Cigarette smoke contains a number of irritants that can inflame the airway and make it difficult to breathe. Quitting smoking can help to reduce sleep apnea symptoms.
Alcohol Use
Drinking alcohol can also lead to sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat, which can block the airway and make it difficult to breathe. Cutting back on alcohol consumption can help to reduce sleep apnea symptoms.
Nasal congestion
Nasal congestion from allergies or a cold can also cause sleep apnea. When the nasal passages are blocked, it can make it difficult to breathe and lead to snoring and interrupted breathing during sleep. Treating nasal congestion can help to reduce sleep apnea symptoms.
We offer dental nightguards as one of the ways to treat sleep apnea. But what exactly are nightguards? Dental nightguards are custom-made appliances that are designed to fit comfortably into your mouth while you sleep. They work by keeping your lower jaw slightly forward, which helps to open up your airways and reduce snoring. In addition, they can prevent your tongue from rolling back and blocking your airway altogether, which is one of the leading causes of sleep apnea.
All of our nightguards are custom-made to ensure a precision fit. This means that we use the latest technology to scan your mouth, allowing us to create a nightguard that is specifically tailored to your unique needs. This precision fit is essential to ensuring that your nightguard is comfortable to wear, but also effective in treating your sleep apnea. It’s worth mentioning that dental nightguards are also great when it comes to treating TMJ.
We understand that some patients have a severe gag reflex, which can make dental treatment a difficult and sometimes uncomfortable experience. A severe gag reflex is an involuntary reaction that causes contraction of the throat muscles, leading to difficulty in breathing and swallowing. This can make simple dental procedures, such as taking dental impressions, a challenging task.
It’s important to consider patients with severe gag reflex because it can impact their overall oral health. Patients may avoid visiting the dentist altogether, resulting in untreated dental issues that can lead to more significant problems down the road. Furthermore, dental anxiety can be increased due to fear of experiencing discomfort or embarrassment during treatment, which can negatively impact a patient’s dental and overall health.
To ensure our patients receive the best possible care, we have developed strategies to make dental treatment more comfortable and approachable for those with a severe gag reflex. Our team is trained to work with patients to establish various coping mechanisms, such as meditation or conscious breathing, to alleviate anxiety and decrease the likelihood of gagging. We also offer sedation dentistry to help patients feel more at ease during treatment.
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MON & FRI
9am – 5pm
SAT & SUN
Closed
TUES & THURS
7:30am – 6pm
MON & FRI
9am – 5pm
TUES & THURS
7:30am – 6pm
SAT & SUN
Closed
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MON & FRI
9am - 5pm
SAT & SUN
Closed
TUES - THURS
7:30am - 6pm
