Sleep Apnea Treatment – Dublin, OH

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Patients who struggle with sleep apnea stop breathing throughout the night, often for 10 seconds or longer, leading to interruptions in deep sleep as they wake up to take a breath. As a result, getting a full night of rest is almost impossible.

Not every patient with sleep apnea wakes up completely. Some only move from a deep stage of sleep to a lighter stage. Because of this, a patient can be struggling with sleep apnea and not even know it.

That's why Dr. Buck of Distinctive Smiles of Dublin asks new and existing patients if they snore or have a bed partner that complains about their snoring, among other questions. Very often, snoring and sleep apnea have the same root cause, namely an obstruction of the airway caused by the tongue or lower jaw.

If you answer yes to our series of questions, we'll take the next step in diagnosing sleep apnea by giving you two written tests, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the STOP-Bang Questionnaire. Based on the numerical results of these, we can refer you to a trusted sleep physician, who will complete a sleep study with you.

Treating Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Depending on the results of your sleep study, the sleep physician will prescribe treatment with a CPAP machine or have us fabricate an oral appliance. Treatment with an oral appliance works by repositioning the tongue and lower jaw to keep the airway clear. With a custom-made oral appliance, we can help you claim the full night of rest you and your partner deserve.

Snoring & Sleep Apnea

One of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is persistent snoring. However, just because someone snores does not automatically mean they have the condition. If the person snores and experiences symptoms like daytime fatigue, morning headaches, or mood/memory issues, then they should definitely come to see us for a sleep screening. These are all telltale signs of sleep apnea.

We also recommend that if someone has been told they snore most nights, they should let our team know. People who snore are much more likely to develop sleep apnea in the future, and minor lifestyle adjustments can prevent this from happening. We may also recommend giving a patient an oral appliance that will allow them to breathe better throughout the night and stop snoring, leading to better rest for them and anyone else in the area.

To learn more about how Dr. Buck can help you or a loved one overcome chronic snoring, sleep apnea, or another persistent sleep disorder, we invite you to visit our sleep apnea site.

Please Visit Our Sleep Apnea Site