When you come to Martins Dental Partners for a dental exam, we are interested in more than just your teeth. We want you to be as healthy as you can be, and that includes getting healthy sleep.

If you aren’t feeling rested, it may be because of untreated sleep apnea. Loud and persistent snoring is easily one of the most common symptoms of this sleep disorder. If someone close to you constantly complains about your snoring — or someone else’s snoring is keeping you awake at night — then it might be time to talk to one of our doctors.

Our dentists in Beverly, MA can help you determine if testing is recommended and can help you get treatment if necessary. Call 978-288-1946 today to learn how a dental visit could help you get better sleep throughout the year ahead.

Other Signs Of Sleep Apnea

Breathing stoppages are the biggest sign that you or someone you care about could have sleep apnea. Apnea comes from a Greek that means “without breath.” People with sleep apnea stop breathing dozens or even hundreds of times each night when they go to bed.

Those stoppages can affect the quality of your sleep, which can affect you in other ways. One of those ways is sleep deprivation. If aren’t getting deep, healthy sleep, you can wake up feeling tired rather than refreshed and revived. You also may be irritable, moody, and easily annoyed.

You may have frequent morning headaches. You also are likely to experience frequent struggles with daytime sleepiness. That could be embarrassing (if it happens at work), annoying (if it happens while you’re trying to watch your favorite team on television), or dangerous (if it happens behind the wheel of your vehicle).

Those breathing stoppages also put stress on your body. That can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

To put it simply, sleep apnea is something you should take seriously.

Getting Tested & Treated

If you suspect that you or someone you care about could have this condition, talking to one of our doctors can help you determine if you should be tested. An overnight sleep test measures how often you stop breathing, which is the primary criteria for determining if you have mild sleep apnea (5 to 14 stoppages per hour), moderate sleep apnea (15 to 29 stoppages per hour), or severe sleep apnea (30 or more stoppages per hour).

The severity of your condition can help determine what treatment may be recommended for you. For many people, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine provide a means to keep your airway open, so you can continue breathing throughout the night. This also requires wearing a mask and adjusting to the sound of having a machine running as well. Unfortunately, those factors also discourage many people from sticking with this treatment.

Thankfully, there is another treatment option. You could get an oral appliance. This device is like a mouthguard that you wear while you are asleep. It shifts your jaw forward slightly, which opens your airway so you can continue breathing. Many people find this much more comfortable and convenient than a CPAP.

Feel the Difference for Yourself

When you wake up after a full night of healthy sleep, you feel energized. You feel ready to take on the day. If you want to feel that way, then it’s time to visit Martins Dental Partners to learn more about how we could help you or your family member manage sleep apnea.

Call 978-288-1946 or contact us online to request a consultation.