Sleep Apnea Treatment in Fort Atkinson

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when your airway collapses while you sleep, blocking the flow of air into your lungs. The harder you try to breathe, the more the airway closes. This continues until your brain briefly wakes you up just enough to tighten your jaw and move your tongue and throat so you can breathe again.

You might not remember waking up, but this cycle can repeat many times a night, leaving you feeling exhausted and influencing your overall health.

Dentistry’s Role in Sleep Apnea Care

In October 2017, the American Dental Association (ADA) adopted a policy outlining dentistry’s role in treating disorders associated with breathing during sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). According to this policy, all dentists should screen patients for sleep-breathing issues, and dentists in Fort Atkinson are encouraged to work closely with physicians to help manage these conditions.

One of the key tools dentists can offer is an oral appliance. These personalized appliances are designed to be worn during sleep, working to gently adjust your jaw position and maintain an open airway.They’re often an excellent alternative for patients with mild to average obstructive sleep apnea or for those who don’t tolerate a CPAP machine well and are looking for sleep apnea treatment near you.

The ADA recognizes sleep-breathing disorders as “potentially serious medical conditions caused by anatomical airway collapse and altered respiratory control mechanisms.” As experts in the mouth and jaw, dentists near you are in a great position to ask about symptoms during routine checkups and refer you to a physician for a proper diagnosis when needed. This team-based approach helps ensure patients get the right care for their sleep and overall health.

How Our Fort Atkinson Dental Team Helps

This past fall, Dr. Showalter and several team members completed advanced training in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in Fort Atkinson, WI.

In our office, we can provide you with a home sleep test that you complete in the comfort of your own bed. After your overnight study, Dr. Showalter and Dr. Trimbell review the results and send them to a Sleep Medicine Physician for interpretation. If you meet the criteria for oral appliance therapy, the physician will write a prescription so we can move forward with treatment.

Many medical insurance plans help pay for the cost of an oral appliance, which can make it easier to move ahead with your sleep apnea appointment and treatment plan.

When Should You Talk to Us About Sleep Apnea?

At your next dental visit, don’t be surprised if your hygienist or dental assistant asks about your sleep. We may ask questions like:

• Do you snore loudly?
• Do you feel tired during the day, even after what seems like a full night’s sleep?
• Has anyone told you that you stop breathing or gasp for air at night?

If you answer “yes” to any of these, let us know. We can help you decide whether a sleep study is right for you and guide you through scheduling a sleep apnea appointment.

Oral appliance therapy can:

• Help you (and your bed partner) finally get a more restful night’s sleep
• Support your long-term health
• Improve your daily energy and quality of life

If you’ve been wondering where to start with sleep apnea treatment near you, our Fort Atkinson dental team is here to walk you through each step, from screening and testing to treatment and follow-up care.