Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Treatment in San Antonio, TX

Whether you suffer from sleep disruption as a result of snoring or are not getting the quality sleep you need, our dentists can help you overcome your sleep apnea issues.

At Local Dental San Antonio, Drs. Joung and Minkyung Lee provide conservative sleep apnea treatment for those suffering from this condition.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which one repeatedly stops and starts breathing many times while one sleeps.

What causes sleep apnea?

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much, narrowing or closing the airway as one breathes. Consequently, the sufferer cannot get enough air, lowering the oxygen level in the blood.

When breathing pauses, the brain senses it and wakes the sufferer to begin breathing again. Typically, the awakening is so brief that the sufferer doesn’t remember gasping, snoring, or choking for air.

Because this pattern can repeat itself 5, 30, or more times each hour throughout the night, it’s essential to seek sleep apnea treatment to ensure restful, deep phases of sleep that are important for human survival.

What are the signs of sleep apnea?

While sleep apnea affects everyone differently, some of the most common sleep apnea symptoms include:

Snoring
Awakening with a dry mouth, morning headache, or irritability
Difficulty paying attention while awake
Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
Gasping for air during sleep

Treatment Expectations

For new patients, we strongly suggest filling out new patient forms and submitting insurance information for a more efficient first visit.

While there is more than one way to treat sleep apnea and snoring, most dentists start with conservative treatment, such as sleep apnea mouth guards. These sleep apnea devices are mouthguards that project the jaw forward, helping the patient breathe easier and snore less severely.

Furthermore, we’ve outlined what to expect before, during, and after sleep apnea treatment:

Before

First, our dentists prescribe a sleep study test to observe sleep apnea symptoms.

During

If our team determines that the patient showcases sleep apnea symptoms, we can fit them for a sleep apnea mouth guard by taking impressions and sending them to our trusted dental laboratory. After a week or two, we call the patient back for a final fitting to ensure that the sleep apnea treatment works sufficiently.

After

Patients are instructed to wear their sleep apnea devices while they sleep.

Finally, Get a Goodnight’s Sleep with Appropriate Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to daytime fatigue, cardiovascular problems, and other serious complications. So, if you’re snoring or displaying other sleep apnea symptoms, talk to Drs. Joung and Minkyoung Lee about diagnosis and treatment.

Take advantage of our online booking or conveniently call (210) 686-1486. The San Antonio community can trust the Local Dental team to keep individuals and families healthy, happy, and feeling at home.