Sleep Apnea Therapy – Frisco, TX

Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Snoring hurts everyone. If you or a loved one snore, it’s a sign that your breathing is being obstructed, which can prevent you from getting the highest-quality sleep possible. Plus, if you have a bed partner or family who sleep near you, it can interfere with their sleep as well. Pretty soon, you have a whole house who is sleep deprived, which is not only annoying, but dangerous! People who are regularly sleep deprived are actually three times as likely to get into a car accident!

Snoring happens when the soft tissues in the mouth and throat relax when you sleep and collapse into your airway. As air passes, it vibrates these tissues and creates the “iconic” snoring sound. For some people, these tissues can actually completely block the airway, causing someone to stop breathing. This is called sleep apnea, and it affects nearly 20 million Americans each night. When a person has sleep apnea, they temporarily stop breathing for short periods throughout the night. This not only prevents them from getting the deep sleep they need, but it can also raise their blood pressure to a dangerous level.

Oral Appliances

Fortunately, Stonebriar Smile Design can treat these conditions using a custom-made oral appliance. This is like a small mouthguard, and you’ll only need to wear it when you go to bed at night. It will slightly shift your jaw forward so that your airway stays open, allowing you (and everyone else) to finally get the sleep they need. We will assess your entire airway space before we get started and be sure the success of your sleep apnea therapy is the best it can be.

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Solea Sleep w/ SnoreLab

Solea Sleep is a quick and easy treatment that uses the power of laser light to tighten the tissue in the airway, opening it up to reduce snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. The laser actually shrinks the collagen in the tissue similar to a wrinkle-removing treatment that you might receive at a spa. Before you come to see us, we’ll have you download the SnoreLab app, which records how much you snore throughout the night. This will provide us with a baseline. After the Solea Sleep Treatment, you’ll continue using the app so that you and our team can see how much your snoring has improved. The treatment itself only takes about 3-5 minutes and is so gentle that most patients don’t need any anesthetic.

Download the Snore Lab App

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Sleep Apnea FAQs

Do you have questions about sleep apnea? We have answers! Below you will find sleep apnea FAQs in Frisco collected by the knowledgeable staff at Stonebriar Smile Design. From how to clean an oral appliance to the dangers of untreated sleep apnea, this section includes critical information you will be glad you know.

If you still have additional question or concerns not covered here, do not hesitate to give our office a call!

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How Common Is Sleep Apnea? 

Sleep apnea is a surprisingly common sleep disorder. In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, sleep apnea occurs in about 25% of men and nearly 10% of women – that’s over 50 million Americans! People of all ages can be affected by sleep apnea, including children. Individuals with certain physical traits, such as excessive weight around the neck, enlarged tonsils, or a small jaw with an overbite, may be more like to experience this sleep disorder. 

What Are the Common Signs of Sleep Apnea?

In addition to chronic snoring, other common signs of sleep apnea include: 

• Morning headaches or migraines
• Dry throat in the morning
• Waking up often to use the bathroom
• Waking up snorting, gasping or choking for air
• Persistent exhaustion during the day, no matter how many hours you slept the night before
• Trouble with memory and/or concentration
• Moodiness or irritability
• Insomnia
• Loss of libido

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, give our office a call to schedule a sleep study.

What Are the Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a much more serious condition than many patients realize. Chronic sleep deprivation can have a dramatic negative impact on your overall health. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of all of the following medical problems:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• Acid reflux
• Depression
• Weakened immune system

How Do I Take Care of My Oral Appliance?

Taking care of an oral appliance is easy! Each morning when you remove your appliance, be sure to brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. When you are finished brushing, rinse it off with lukewarm water. Wet, dark environments are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, so be sure to let your appliance air dry before securing it in its container.

In addition, be sure to brush your teeth every night before putting on your sleep appliance. Otherwise, any leftover food particles and bacteria on your teeth will become trapped overnight.

Finally, if you want to really ensure that your oral appliance stays squeaky clean, soak it in water with a denture cleaner tablet once a week. You can find these tablets in almost any pharmacy or supermarket. A weekly soak can provide the extra level of clean that brushing alone can’t quite achieve.

Does My Insurance Cover Sleep Apnea Therapy?

In most cases, therapy for obstructive sleep apnea is covered by medical insurance – not dental insurance. Every insurance plan is slightly different, so be sure to check with your provider before opting for oral appliance therapy or Solea Sleep treatment. Feel free to ask our expert staff for help if you don’t feel like you fully understand the details of your insurance policy. Our team is always happy to assist patients in maximizing their insurance benefits and we will even file an insurance claim on your behalf.