Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Tulsa, OK

What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

When determining the ultimate cause of OSA, many sleep professionals attribute it to the soft tissues inside the mouth collapsing onto the airway. Throat muscles, as they relax, can fall back while you are sleeping, creating an obstruction and preventing free airflow. If 10 or more seconds go by without being able to breathe, your body will rush to alert your brain of its need to breathe. You will likely wake suddenly and begin gasping for air.

OSA can happen once or multiple times each night. Some patients even report 100+ apnea episodes.

Possible Complications of OSA

Knowing whether you have OSA or not isn’t always easily identifiable. If you live alone, you may not be able to determine if you snore, which is a common indicator of sleep apnea. However, not all patients who snore have OSA. To better understand whether this might be a real problem that you are suffering from, additional symptoms to be mindful of include:

• Drowsy driving
• Stroke or heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Chronic fatigue
• Moodiness and irritability
• Weight gain/obesity
• Bedwetting
• Loss of libido
• Frequent headaches

When Should I See A Doctor?

If you suspect that you might be dealing with obstructive sleep apnea, it’s strongly advised that you call our Healthy Sleep Tulsa office. A member of our team will schedule an appointment so that you can come in to see our doctors who will be happy to discuss your symptoms and determine if you are a candidate for further testing.

If you’re unsure whether you should call our office, let the following tips help you make the right decision. If you experience any of the issues below, give our office a call:

• You suffer from chronic fatigue that makes it difficult to complete your daily work and/or drive safely
• You snore loudly and often cause others to wake as a result
• You struggle to breathe and begin gasping for air throughout the night
• Your partner claims that you stop breathing while asleep

Types of Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When determining the best way to treat obstructive sleep apnea, it’s important that your sleep dentist in Tulsa thoroughly discuss how you can achieve the best results. There are various options available, each offering its own unique advantages:

Oral Appliance Therapy

At Healthy Sleep Tulsa, we are pleased to provide our patients with an easy-to-use solution known as oral appliance therapy. Portable and user-friendly, this custom-made device can be easily worn to bed without requiring individuals to maneuver around bulky wiring and machinery. Not only do these appliances fit comfortably inside the mouth because of customized impressions, but they work to shift the jaw slightly forward, preventing soft tissues from collapsing into the airway. As a result, air can flow freely, preventing any sort of obstruction.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is one of the most commonly used treatment options for OSA. It pushes air through a mask that is worn over the nose or face, helping to keep the airway open while asleep. The only caveat to the CPAP device is that it is usually bulky and can be difficult to travel with should you be sleeping anywhere other than home.

Combination Therapy

For patients who suffer from severe OSA, it can be necessary to pursue combination therapy. This involves undergoing treatment with a CPAP machine as well as oral appliance therapy. By incorporating both styles of treatment, a person can breathe more freely and worry less about an obstruction in their airway. Typically, a CPAP machine is placed on its highest setting; however, when wearing an oral appliance, this is not necessary. This also helps to cut down on any additional noise that CPAP machines can often cause.

Myofunctional Therapy

If a patient struggles to breathe through their nose and instead, is considered a mouth breather, they might benefit from myofunctional therapy. This option helps individuals learn to use their tongue, mouth, and throat muscles in a way that encourages proper breathing. This method of treatment typically occurs after necessary airway treatment is administered. Considered a simple and conservative approach, individuals will perform simple exercises to ensure proper movement and habits are established over time.

Surgery

Only in the most severe cases will our doctors recommend surgery when treating OSA. Typically, if all other methods of treatment are tried but fail to produce results, we will suggest a more invasive approach. This may include removing enlarged adenoids or tonsils, or other oral tissues.

Sleep Testing for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Your symptoms alone aren’t enough to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. If you are showing signs of this condition, it may be time for you to complete a sleep test. With an in-lab or at-home sleep test, you can receive a formal diagnosis, and we can move forward in creating a treatment plan that is right for you. If you believe that you could benefit from a sleep test, give our Tulsa office a call.