Find Relief from Sleepless Nights with a Sleep Apnea Dentist in Bonita Springs, FL
Sleep apnea disrupts your sleep by causing you to stop breathing for periods ranging from a few seconds to several minutes, which might happen more than 30 times every hour. These interruptions prevent your body from getting a consistent flow of oxygen throughout the night – this, over time, makes you vulnerable to many health risks. If you suspect you might be experiencing this, it might be related to your oral health. A sleep study can help confirm whether you have sleep apnea, and from there, Sleep Treatment Direct can help you explore your treatment options.
Despite what many believe, sleep apnea treatment is not limited to CPAP or BiPAP masks. Our dental sleep medicine practitioners have successfully used Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) to improve the sleep quality of patients across Bonita Springs. We can fit you with a customized dental appliance to keep your airways open during sleep, addressing the root cause of obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, as a leading dental sleep specialist in Bonita Springs, FL, we are dedicated to providing effective solutions for those suffering from sleep apnea with the latest sleep apnea devices.
Dentists Who Treat Sleep Apnea in Bonita Springs, FL Offer Hope for Uninterrupted Sleep
Sleep apnea occurs when your airway closes entirely or narrows to the point where insufficient air can enter, causing your oxygen levels to drop. The lack of oxygen in your brain causes it to send signals to wake you up, sometimes gasping for air.
When the airway fully closes, it’s called “apnea.” When it constricts but still lowers your oxygen levels or wakes you up, it’s known as “hypopnea.” A sleep apnea dentist in Bonita Springs, Florida, can use home testing equipment to track these throughout the night. If you experience an average of five or more disruptions per hour, you may have obstructive sleep apnea, and a dental sleep specialist may recommend oral appliance therapy to alleviate the condition.
How Sleep Treatment Direct Helps Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Dr. Fred Eck, DDS, and his team at Sleep Treatment Direct are equipped to help diagnose and treat sleep apnea with non-invasive methods. During your preliminary consultation, if we suspect you may have sleep apnea, we will recommend a home-based sleep study to confirm the diagnosis by tracking your biological functions when you sleep. If the test confirms mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the next step would be to create an oral appliance based on your unique anatomical structure.
You may have heard of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, which are commonly prescribed as a treatment for OSA. However, many patients find them incredibly difficult to use for a number of reasons. The mask can feel confining or tight, the machine can be noisy and disturb your partner’s sleep, and changing your sleeping position with a CPAP on is not easy. As an alternative, dental sleep medicine in Bonita Springs, FL, offers oral appliance therapy, which can be a more comfortable and convenient option for those struggling with obstructive sleep apnea.
Discover How Oral Appliance Therapy by a Sleep Apnea Dentist in Bonita Springs, FL Can Transform Your Nights
Oral appliance therapy is an alternative and just as effective treatment that eliminates all these problems. Known as mandibular advancement devices (MADs), these appliances look similar to mouthguards and slightly move the lower jaw forward. This repositioning of the tongue, tonsils, and other soft tissues keeps your airways open by stopping the muscles from dropping, preventing apnea episodes.
If a MAD is appropriate for you, our team will take impressions of your teeth to make a custom device that fits your mouth. The fit is critical because sleep apnea devices that don’t correctly fit your mouth can harm your jaw; this is also why you should never wear over-the-counter, pre-made retainers.
You will wear your sleep apnea appliance while sleeping to help manage your sleep apnea symptoms. As a leading sleep apnea dentist in Bonita Springs, Florida, Dr. Eck will closely monitor the effectiveness of your appliance and make necessary adjustments to keep it working as intended throughout the treatment.
How Dental Sleep Medicine in Bonita Springs, FL, Addresses Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea doesn’t just happen overnight; it is a gradual process that can go unnoticed by patients. You may experience minimal disruptions in your breathing — about five times or less per hour. These are instances where your airway either partially or fully collapses, indicating that you have or are developing sleep apnea. If you’re in Bonita Springs, FL, a sleep apnea dentist can provide specialized care for this condition.
At first, the apnea episodes may not disturb your sleep too much. However, as time passes and you don’t do anything about it, the frequency of episodes will only increase. You will find your sleep becoming more interrupted and leaving you feeling tired during the day.
Daytime fatigue is often mistakenly blamed on aging or “stress at work” rather than being linked to a sleep disorder. For most people, it takes more severe symptoms—like feeling overwhelmingly tired all day or struggling to stay awake during tasks like driving—for the reality of untreated sleep apnea to really hit home. Recognizing this, many have turned to a dentist for sleep apnea in Bonita Springs, FL, to explore treatment options such as oral appliance therapy. Pushed by the severity of their condition, they seek help before it’s too late.
As soon as you start experiencing the following signs, get in touch with us at Sleep Treatment Direct:
- Sudden waking with a startled gasping for air
- Extremely loud snoring with intermittent quiet periods
- Waking up with a pounding headache almost daily
- Unusual severe sleepiness throughout the day
- Witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep
- Frequent nightly urination
- Consistent morning throat soreness and dryness
- Frequent mood changes tied to restless nights
- Panic-like awakening in the middle of the night
- Falling asleep suddenly when sitting still
- Difficulty focusing or remembering during the day
- Decreased sexual desire or function
- High blood pressure despite medication
- Snoring loud enough to disturb others’ sleep
- Choking or coughing that wakes you up at night
A Custom Solution for Sleep Apnea: Oral Appliances
If you have tried CPAP therapy and did not like it, or you have moderate sleep apnea and don’t want to try CPAP, we recommend oral appliance therapy. An oral device may be all you need to manage your symptoms effectively. The device fits over your teeth like a mouth guard and adjusts your lower jaw forward, which can help keep your breathing steady through the night. Patients seeking dental sleep medicine can find expert care in Bonita Springs, FL, where tailored treatments for obstructive sleep apnea are provided.
Dentist Sleep Apnea Solutions for Peaceful Rest in Bonita Springs, Florida
Dr. Fred Eck, DDS, custom fits this device to ensure it is comfortable and effective. His team will monitor the device’s impact over time. Not only does this help prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep, but it’s also proven to reduce snoring, helping you (and perhaps your partner) get a restful night’s sleep.
If you are in or near Bonita Springs and looking for trusted sleep apnea dentists, look no further! Take our free online sleep apnea screener and start your journey towards a healthier, happier you!