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sleep apnea

Sleep Apnea

Are you struggling to get enough sleep? Does your partner complain about your constant snoring?

Sleep apnea disrupts your breathing leaving you tired the following day, and it can even lead to more serious health issues.

At Fort Bend Dental, we can treat sleep apnea with a custom oral appliance so you can finally sleep.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where the patient experiences interruptions in breathing that last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, generally followed by a loud gasp for air. These pauses in breathing can occur multiple times a night and increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Check Out These Patient's Sleep Apnea Story & Learn About Sleep Apnea Therapy at Fort Bend Dental

The Types

Of Sleep Apnea

There are three types of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) are the most common. However, some patients have a combination of the two, which is called complex sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is the most common form of sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when soft tissue sags and partially or fully blocks your upper airway and prevents you from breathing normally. The dentists at our Texas practice can treat obstructive sleep apnea with a customized mouthguard that comfortably opens your airway. This allows you to breathe easily throughout the night while you sleep.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea is less common, but a more serious form of sleep apnea. It is a neurological condition where your brain fails to regulate your breathing while you sleep. Once the oxygen levels get too low, your brain wakes you up so you begin breathing again. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea is not caused by a blocked airway and will require the care of a specialist.

Complex Sleep Apnea

Complex Sleep Apnea

Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both central and obstructive sleep apnea. Patients can typically benefit from a customized mouthguard and treatment from a specialist. We can fit you with your mouthguard and your sleep specialist may recommend further treatment, such as sleep medicine or a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

The Symptoms

Of Sleep Apnea

Many patients are unaware they have sleep apnea until a roommate or loved one notices their snoring or gasping for air throughout the night. You should contact one of our conveniently located practices, if you notice any of these symptoms:

Snoring

Waking regularly with a headache, dry mouth, or sore throat

Restless sleep

Daytime sleepiness

Difficulty focusing on your daily tasks and duties

Waking up multiple times throughout the night

Increased anxiety or depression

Moodiness and irritability

Weight gain or weight loss

What Can Happen

When Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Left Untreated

Besides the symptoms above, if left untreated obstructive sleep apnea can have serious effects on your physical health. Sleep apnea can cause an imbalance of carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in your body, which can have lasting effects on your overall well-being.

Cardiovascular Health

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, and a heart attack.

Mental Health

The continual lack of sleep can impact your mental health. Obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to severe anxiety, panic disorder, and dementia.

Weight

Weight gain caused by obstructive sleep apnea can lead to obesity and obesity-related health issues like Type 2 diabetes.

Do Not Wait

To Seek Sleep Apnea Treatment

The dentists at Fort Bend Dental can effectively treat mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea and prevent it from progressing into a more serious health concern. We can conduct a sleep study to determine your sleep patterns and then recommend the appropriate next steps, such as creating a custom oral appliance.

If you are experiencing daytime sleepiness, irritability, or any other symptom you think could be linked to sleep apnea, request an appointment so you can start sleeping soundly. We have offices on Grand Parkway in Richmond and also in Missouri City, Aliana, Sugar Land, and Rosenberg, TX.

(281) 499-3541

Are You Ready for a Good Night’s Sleep?

5-Star Reviews

From Happy Patients

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Therrel Henderson

2022

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Totally Impressed! Top notch from the initial point to the end of our first appointment! Highly recommend!

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Ellie Bee

2022

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Always friendly & professional. Erum does such a great job of keeping my smile bright!

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New to Our Office?

Our Fort Bend Dental family goes above and beyond to create a warm, comfortable, safe, and friendly environment for you and your family’s dental care.

How We Diagnose

Your Sleep Apnea

Our dentists are fully equipped to treat mild to moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea. We provide WatchPAT® for our patients to take home overnight for a sleep study.

The WatchPAT is a watch-like device that allows our doctors to diagnose sleep apnea.

Book Your Appointment

To start the process of diagnosis, you will first need to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at Fort Bend Dental. They will go over your medical history and symptoms to determine if a sleep disorder could be a possible cause.

Wear the WatchPAT

If we determine you may be suffering from a sleep disorder, we can send you home with a WatchPAT, an FDA-approved diagnostic tool that you wear while sleeping. This easy-to-use, watch-like device measures: movement, snoring level, body position, chest movement, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and more.

Bring It Back

After your sleep study, you will bring the WatchPAT back so we can download and analyze the results. This will help us determine if you have a sleep disorder.

Learn Your Diagnosis

If the test determines you have obstructive sleep apnea, our experienced dentists can develop a treatment plan and may recommend an oral appliance. If you are suffering from central or complex sleep apnea, we will refer you to a sleep specialist for further diagnosis. Central and complex sleep apnea may benefit from other treatments, such as sleep medicine or a continuous positive airway pressure machine.

Fort Bend Dental Has Convenient Offices in Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX

A Comfortable Solution

For Obstructive Sleep Apnea

oral appliance

Fort Bend Dental designs custom-made oral appliances, which are a comfortable and easy-to-use solution for many patients suffering from sleep apnea. This specially designed mouthguard lets you get a good night’s sleep while avoiding the hassles associated with CPAP machines, which are loud and bulky.

Using digital impressions and a 3D printer, our dentists can create a custom-fitted oral appliance for you to wear each night. These mouth guards bring your lower jaw slightly forward to keep your upper airway open while you sleep.

The oral appliance can be just as effective and is less invasive than a CPAP machine and results in greater patient compliance. You can quickly notice the benefits of a good night’s sleep just by wearing this mouthguard each night.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Dental Damage

Although OSA can have a significant, lasting impact on your sleep and physical health, it can also negatively affect your oral health. Our dentists in Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX, can treat both your sleep apnea and the dental problems associated with it.

Dental Issues Caused By OSA

Patients with OSA are more prone to experience teeth grinding and jaw clenching (bruxism), which can lead to early tooth wear and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

Restorative Treatment Options

In cases where there is extensive dental damage, we can repair your smile with dental fillings, inlays or onlays, or dental crowns to help protect your teeth from further harm.

The Cost

Of OSA Treatment

The cost of sleep apnea treatment can range from $2,000-$7000. Fort Bend Dental offers CareCredit® and is willing to set up a payment plan for our uninsured patients. Call our office to get more details on our pricing and how our sleep apnea treatment can help you lead a healthier life.

Call to learn about easy-pay financing options:

(281) 499-3541

Our Patient's Care Comes First

Mr. Prater’s story is an excellent example of how we treat patients here at Fort Bend Dental. If you have an emergency, or dental pain that needs to be solved immediately we are here for you, and we assure you that you’ll receive relief from your pain in a comfortable manner.

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