About Sleep Apnea

Boulder, Colorado

Sleep apnea is a very dangerous condition marked by repeated interruptions in your breathing while you sleep. Often, these pauses in breathing can occur hundreds of times a night without you even realizing they occur. If untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues such as:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Diabetes
• Depression

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when the tongue and muscles in the back of your throat relax and collapse on your airway. This causes your breathing to stop, denying oxygen to your blood. In order to resume breathing, your brain will rouse you from sleep.

These pauses in breathing not only reduce the oxygen entering your system, they also prevent you from reaching the deep levels of sleep necessary for a restful night’s sleep.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

The most common symptom of sleep apnea is loud snoring. Often, this will also impact your spouse’s or partner’s ability to sleep through the night. Other sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up
• Morning headaches
• Insomnia
• Inability to concentrate
• Mood swings
• Decreased sex drive

If you experience several of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor to see if you suffer from sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment

Often, the best person to treat your sleep apnea is your dentist. Boulder sleep apnea dentist, Dr. Gerald B. Savory, has extensive experience treating patients with sleep apnea, and he can help alleviate your condition so that you are not at risk of serious health complications down the road.

Dr. Savory will perform a pulse oximetry screening in order to properly diagnose your condition. The pulse oximetry screening will be performed while you are sleeping. It monitors any changes in oxygen levels you may experience during sleep. If indicated, he will then refer you to your physician for further diagnosis of a possible sleep disorder.

Once your physician conclusively determines that you are suffering from sleep apnea, Dr. Savory will recommend the appropriate treatment course to address your unique situation and oral health needs. In most cases, Dr. Savory will recommend one of two sleep apnea treatment methods:

• Oral appliance therapy
• TAP-PAP (oral appliance therapy combined with CPAP treatment)

Dr. Savory has been helping patients in the Boulder, Colorado area suffering from sleep apnea for more than three decades. He has the skills and experience necessary to help alleviate your condition. The risks associated with sleep apnea are too serious to delay treatment. If you believe you may be suffering from sleep apnea, it is important to get your condition diagnosed by a sleep specialist as soon as possible.

Please contact our Boulder sleep apnea dentist today to schedule your sleep apnea consultation. Gunbarrel Dental Center serves patients in Boulder, Gunbarrel, Longmont, Niwot, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, and Superior, Colorado.

Disclaimer: The sleep apnea information provided on this website by Dr. Gerald Savory is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. To learn more about sleep apnea in the Boulder, Colorado area, please contact Gunbarrel Dental Center to schedule a consultation today.