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Sleep Apnea

Arizona Advanced Dental

Dentists & Cosmetic Dentists located in Mesa, AZ

Experts estimate that about 22 million Americans don’t get adequate sleep because of sleep apnea, and even more, they cannot fall asleep or stay asleep because of their partner’s sleep apnea-related snoring or breathing difficulties. At Arizona Advanced Dental in Mesa, Arizona, Donald Clifford, DDS, and Casey Cutler, DDS, offer sleep apnea assessment and treatment to help you sleep comfortably and breathe well at night. To improve your nighttime breathing with a snore guard, call Arizona Advanced Dental or request an appointment online today.

Sleep Apnea Q & A

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects the way you breathe as you sleep. While loud snoring is the most well-known symptom of sleep apnea, a more accurate indicative symptom is gasping for air as you sleep. 

There are three types of sleep apnea, each with different causes:

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is trouble breathing while you sleep as the result of some form of obstruction (typically tissues closing in on themselves) within your throat as you sleep. This is the most common sleep apnea type.

Central sleep apnea

If you have central sleep apnea, your airways may be wide open but your unconscious mind forgets to tell your body to keep breathing. 

Complex sleep apnea

Complex sleep apnea appears after you’ve already received treatment for your obstructive sleep apnea. Out of habit, you stop breathing while you sleep despite having open airways.

How can I tell if I have sleep apnea?

If a loved one has told you about your snoring or observed breathing difficulties at night, you may suspect it’s sleep apnea. However, if you typically sleep far from other people, symptoms of sleep apnea are harder to detect. Some symptoms of sleep apnea show up during your day but are more difficult to attribute to sleep apnea.

In addition to snoring or breathing difficulties at night, sleep apnea can cause:

  • Morning dry mouth
  • Morning headaches
  • Insomnia (trouble falling or staying asleep)
  • Moodiness
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Daytime tiredness or frequent naps

If you’re a known snorer, it isn’t necessarily because of sleep apnea. If you experience several of these symptoms frequently, you should come to Arizona Advanced Dental for a sleep apnea assessment.

How can a dentist treat my sleep apnea?

At Arizona Advanced Dental, Dr. Clifford and Dr. Cutler specialize in treating obstructive sleep apnea by opening your airways with oral appliances. The traditional treatment for sleep apnea is the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which helps you breathe by opening your airways with air pressure. 

Appliances from your dentist allow you to keep a silent sleeping environment and avoid wearing a bothersome CPAP mask at night. 

Specifically, Dr. Clifford and Dr. Cutler offer snore guards. Snore guards are a specialized type of mouthguard that fits between your upper and lower teeth. They move your lower jaw forward to effectively keep your throat open for easy breathing as you sleep.

If you or a loved one suspects that you have sleep apnea, request an appointment by phone or online at Arizona Advanced Dental today to start sleeping more soundly at night.