Sleep Apnea Therapy - Skokie, IL
No More
Sleepless Nights!
Sleep apnea affects many Americans every year, but most people don’t even realize they have it! This sleep disorder affects breathing cycles while you slumber, and can prevent you from getting the good night’s rest you deserve. Dr. Weiss and Dr. Fulreader can treat snoring and sleep apnea at our Skokie, IL dental office. Please call us today if you think you might be affected by this disorder to learn more about sleep apnea therapy in Skokie, IL.
Why Choose Weiss Dental Arts for Sleep Apnea Therapy?
- Multiple Sleep Apnea Solutions Under One Roof
- Digital Impressions Ensures Perfect Fit
- Proven Solutions That Work Quickly
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea:
- snoring loudly.
- constant fatigue.
- not feeling refreshed after a full night’s sleep.
- difficulty concentrating when awake.
- migraines.
As you can see, many of these are also symptoms of sleep disorders. Snoring is often an indicator of this problem. If your spouse complains of loud snoring or if your nocturnal noise prevents others in your household from sleeping, you’ll want to fix it. However, if you sleep alone, it can be hard to determine the cause of your chronic fatigue.
As you sleep, it’s normal for the muscles in your body to relax. This includes the muscles located in your tongue, throat, and uvula. During a regular sleep cycle, your tongue and soft palate will be controlled and maintained by these muscles, but with patients who suffer from sleep apnea, the airway becomes obstructed from a lack of support. The relaxation of these muscles can block the flow of oxygen, causing patients to snore loudly and force these muscles back into their proper place. This can occur multiple times throughout the night, preventing patients from obtaining their much-needed rest.
Our professional team is happy to provide you with a sleep apnea diagnosis. Dr. Weiss is experienced with recognizing the signs of sleep apnea, and is ready to assist you as soon as possible.
Oral Appliances
For over a decade, Dr. Brad Weiss has treated patients with sleep disorders through the use of oral appliance therapy. His extensive experience working closely with sleep physicians and their expertise in customizing sleep appliances has made Dr. Weiss one of the leading dentists in dental sleep medicine on the North Shore and the Chicago area.
Dr. Weiss may choose to address your needs with an oral appliance, such as:
- Somnodent
- Silent Night
- TAP Oral Appliance
- EMA
These devices are worn when you sleep, and work by repositioning the tongue, lower jaw, uvula, and the soft palate of your mouth during the night for optimal air flow. This will stabilize your jaw and increase the muscle tone of the tongue, which strengthens and prevents these muscles from collapsing.
Snoring and sleep apnea therapy oral appliances are very comfortable to wear, which makes it easy for patients to grow accustomed to using them. Most patients don't even notice it after a week or two of using this beneficial treatment. The small appliances are convenient to carry when travelling, as well. Oral appliance treatments are non-invasive, making this an ideal solution for many sleep apnea and snoring patients.
Your sleep apnea and snoring device will be made to fit your mouth, and you’ll wear it while you sleep. This form of sleep apnea therapy has a high rate of patient compliance because it can truly help you to get a full night of sleep. Studies have shown that sleep apnea appliances can reduce blood pressure, which in turn reduces your likelihood of a stroke. Your other symptoms should be lessened or eliminated altogether as you get your much-needed rest.
To receive sleep apnea treatment, please contact our dental office today. Dr. Weiss and Dr. Fulreader can correct your sleep apnea by using oral appliances. Don’t ignore the warning signs of sleep apnea and snoring disorders. Help out your health and your peace of mind by seeking treatment from our dental office. We can’t wait to provide the treatment you need for a restful night.
Learn More About Oral Appliance Therapy
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Getting control of your sleep apnea can be intimidating, but you have Dr. Weiss and Dr. Fulreader to help you every step of the way. If there’s ever anything you don’t understand about your condition or our recommendations, we want you to let us know right away so that we can clear up your doubts and help you feel informed about the decisions you’re making. Here are just a few of the questions that we often hear during sleep apnea consultations:
Will I Need a Sleep Study?
We can only give you an oral appliance that has been appropriately customized for your needs once a sleep study has been performed. Snoring and waking up frequently during the night are both common symptoms of sleep apnea, but they have other causes as well. Moreover, there are different kinds of sleep disorders that respond to different forms of treatment. A sleep study will make it possible to narrow down the nature of your condition so that we can determine whether or not an oral appliance is truly right for you. If we find possible signs of sleep apnea, we can help you take the necessary first steps to having a sleep study performed.
Is Ignoring Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
When you have sleep apnea, you tend to feel exhausted all throughout the day, which can lead to accidents on the road or at work. Also, untreated sleep apnea is strongly linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, liver problems, cognitive and memory problems, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and post-surgical complications. In short, your life could potentially be in danger if you don’t seek treatment as soon as possible. Be sure to bring up any health issues that you think might be linked to your sleep apnea during your consultation.
How Can I Treat Sleep Apnea at Home?
After you get your oral appliance, you can start improving your sleep apnea symptoms by changing your lifestyle in various ways. Losing weight and making sure you’re within a healthy Body Mass Index can make a significant difference, as obesity is often one of the biggest contributing factors to sleep apnea. You can also look into ways of changing your sleeping position; sleeping on your back tends to result in more severe sleep apnea symptoms than sleeping on your side. Also, you should abstain from using alcohol as much as possible, as it can cause your throat muscles to become more relaxed than normal while you sleep.
How Long Will My Oral Appliance Last?
Oral appliances do not last forever. You’ll most likely need to have it replaced periodically due to wear and tear or other factors. On average, you can expect an oral appliance to last around 12 to 24 months, but it does depend largely on how well you take care of it. To extend its lifespan, make sure that you’re cleaning it on a regular basis, and avoiding eating or drinking anything besides water while you’re wearing it.