Vancouver Sleep Apnea Dentist
SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT FOR A RESTFUL NIGHT’S SLEEP
Sleep apnea is one of the most common issues we see at our Vancouver dentist office.
While many people think sleep apnea is strictly a snoring issue, the problem goes much deeper than that. While you may not even notice it, obstructive sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing momentarily while asleep, waking you up and interrupting your sleep. This is most often caused by an obstruction in your mouth or throat.
At Pickens Family Dentistry, we can help you treat obstructive sleep apnea head on. We’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan to help you breathe normally and get a restful night’s sleep.
Are you experiencing any of the following?
- Grogginess throughout the day
- Loud and disruptive snoring
- Sore throat or dry mouth upon waking up
- Poor performance at work due to tiredness
- Sporadic periods of irritability or low energy
- Severe morning or daytime headaches
NightLase™: The Modern Way To Treat Snoring And Sleep Apnea
At Pickens Family Dentistry, we are proud to offer our patients a revolutionary way to treat snoring and sleep apnea: NightLase™. Using our cutting-edge Fotona Laser, we’re able to non-invasively treat the tissues in your throat to encourage them to contract, resulting in an airway expansion that will allow you to breathe easier, sleep better, and reduce or eliminate snoring.
This painless procedure is completed in just 1 annual appointment after an initial series of 3-4 appointments to start, and results in little to no downtime. Results are immediate and last up to 1 year! While NightLase™ does not completely cure obstructive sleep apnea, it has been shown to reduce symptoms significantly. If you suffer from severe sleep apnea, we might recommend NightLase™ to reduce symptoms and allow for other treatment methods to be even more effective.
Get in touch today to learn more about NightLase™ and how it can help treat your obstructive sleep apnea effectively and without surgery.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF NOT TREATING SLEEP APNEA
Close to 20 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea — and even more are living through it every day and don’t even know it! While many patients suffer from sleep apnea, it should not be treated lightly. The severity of these issues can be life altering if left untreated.
Some of the most common and severe health implications of living with sleep apnea include:
- Sleep loss, resulting in less energy, loss of focus, and drowsiness. This can result in everything from poor job performance to car accidents.
- High blood pressure as a result of intense stress caused by repeated interruptions in breathing.
- Heart disease and a higher likelihood of stroke caused by your body receiving less oxygen and constantly waking up throughout the night.
- Weight gain, caused by your body having less energy, resulting in a less active lifestyle.
THINK YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA? ASK ABOUT OUR AT-HOME TEST.
Learn the severity of your sleep disorder from the comfort of your own home. In years past, sleep apnea tests were complicated, expensive appointments that involved being evaluated and tested at a specialist while you slept.
With an at-home test, you can comfortably and easily screen for any breathing issues and have your test results reviewed by a Board Certified Sleep Specialist. Our at-home test effectively screens for all severities of sleep disorders. It’s the easy and quick way to diagnose sleep apnea!
Once our Vancouver sleep apnea dentist views the results, we’ll work with you to develop a custom treatment plan. For those experiencing severe sleeping issues, we’ll refer you to a sleep specialist so you can get the treatment you need.
How Does Sleep Apnea Treatment Work?
Tackling obstructive sleep apnea requires a holistic and comprehensive approach.
The most effective way to cure sleep apnea is through the use of a CPAP device, which is worn over your mouth while sleeping to provide air to your throat. While CPAP treatment is the gold standard, many struggle with the device and find the mask uncomfortable to sleep in. This often results in the treatment being quickly abandoned.
A great option for those wanting a less obstructive sleep apnea treatment is either our NightLase™ treatment or an oral appliance. NightLase™ offers the least invasive and obstructive treatment option. Completed in approximately 3-4 appointments and results in no side effects, NightLase™ will not affect your lifestyle, though it does not “cure” obstructive sleep apnea on its own.
Another effective option that can be used is an oral appliance. An oral appliance is a custom mouthpiece worn when sleeping that helps mitigate the obstruction and promote clean airways and a restful night’s sleep. An oral appliance may be used as a stand-alone treatment, in conjunction with NightLase™, as an alternative to or as a travel option for those with a CPAP machine. Oral appliances are a much more comfortable option and will disrupt your lifestyle significantly less than a CPAP machine.
PICKENS FAMILY DENTISTRY’S APPROACH TO SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for sleep apnea. We can help patients diagnosed with Sleep Apnea find an alternative treatment that suits their lifestyle.
Every patient’s body and airway is very different and requires a personalized approach. If you have a diagnosis for obstructive sleep apnea and are discouraged with your CPAP, Dr. Pickens can work with you to find a treatment plan that works for you. For those without a diagnosis, we offer an at-home screening to determine if you are experiencing sleep apnea. Results are reviewed by a Board Certified Sleep Specialist and an individualized treatment plan is created.
A restful night’s sleep is one of the foundations of a healthy life. Let’s treat your snoring or obstructive sleep apnea together.
★★★★★
What Our Patients Are Saying
— CHEYENNE K.“I love it here! The staff is great, and very caring. The office its self is very cozy and relaxing, and Mr. Pickens was absolutely awesome, and the hygienist was super sweet. Over all best dentist ever!!”
MEET DR. DRUE PICKENS
At Pickens Family Dentistry, our patients are our family. We believe you deserve to be treated with compassion, kindness, and understanding at the dentist office.
Dr. Drue Pickens built Pickens Family Dentistry to help families in Vancouver discover how optimal health and true wellness through dentistry can improve their lives.
When you walk into our dentist office, you’ll feel like you’ve just entered a welcoming home. You’ll be greeted by our friendly staff and we’ll answer any questions or concerns you have throughout the duration of your appointment. We offer an extensive array of amenities such as pillows and blankets, noise-canceling headphones, Netflix, and aromatherapy. We’ll do everything we can to make you feel comfortable in our office.
We can’t wait for you to discover the best dentistry has to offer in Vancouver.
At Pickens Family Dentistry, We Can Help With…
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See How Sleep Apnea Treatment Can Help You Get A Restful Night’s Sleep.
