Dr. Bill Flora, your local dentist in Elkhart, is excited to join you on your journey to a beautiful, healthy smile. At Greenleaf Family Dentistry, we believe in providing a wide variety of treatment options suitable for patients of all ages. Whether you are looking to straighten your teeth with ClearCorrect Invisible Braces, or are experiencing jaw pain and need TMJ services, we are here to help you! If you or a family member is currently suffering from Sleep Apnea, read more below to learn how Dr. Flora can help.
Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
If you or a family member is experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may qualify for Sleep Apnea care at Greenleaf Family Dentistry:
- Loud Snoring
- Restlessness while sleeping
- Insomnia
- Waking up choking or gasping for air
- Sleepiness while driving
- Recurring morning headaches
- Sore or dry throat in the morning
What is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA commonly occurs when the air passageway is partially blocked during sleep. The result of this can be excessive snoring, choking, and restless sleep amongst other common sleeping problems. Patients suffering from OSA can experience anywhere from 30-50 apneic events (where a patient stops breathing) throughout the night. Unfortunately sleep apnea doesn’t end there. It can lead to a variety of other health issues including but not limited to:
- Heart attack
- Depression
- Stroke
- High Blood Pressure
- Heartburn
Treatments for Sleep Apnea
Greenleaf Family Dentistry offers a unique approach to treating this common problem. The most well known treatment for sleep apnea is with a continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) machine. if a CPAP machine does not work well for you, Dr. Flora offers custom oral appliances to aid in opening the airway so you can sleep and breathe better. If you are interested in learning more about sleep apnea, give us a call at 574-262-9619 and we would be happy to assist you!