There is a serious sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans that few of us are taking seriously. It’s sleep apnea, the condition you may only associate with snoring. Our Novi MI dental office has been treating sleep apnea for years, because we understand that sleep apnea is an overall health crisis that can affect almost every aspect of your life.

But the good news is that relief isn’t difficult. You may not even need a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea. Dr. James Ross is treating sleep apnea with a comfortable oral appliance. You can use this appliance anywhere, and you want bother your bed partner. You can sign up for a study today by calling 248-697-2487.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a major problem that affects about 22 million Americans. It occurs when you experience pauses in breathing while you sleep. People with severe forms of sleep apnea can experience up to 30 pauses in breathing every hour. This is troublesome for a few reasons. For starters, the lapses in breathing put major stress on your body. Your blood pressure goes up, and you’ll wake up feeling exhausted because you never reach a deep sleep.  

There are two types of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form, occurs when soft tissue blocks the airway during sleep. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the lungs during sleep. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly, but that’s not the only symptom. Other symptoms include:

  • Waking up gasping for air
  • Restless sleeping
  • Waking up with headaches
  • Dry mouth or sore throat
  • Constant daytime fatigue
  • Moodiness
  • Trouble concentrating

The Medical Risks of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is considered an overall health problem. It’s possible to die from sleep apnea complications. If you doubt this, just Google “Reggie White cause of death.” White was an NFL star who died in his sleep only a few years after he ended his football career. In addition to its imminent threat, sleep apnea can increase your risk of life-threatening health problems. Sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and even depression. These are all serious problems that can alter the course of your life. We don’t want that for you or any of your loved ones!

… Other Risks of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a unique medical problem because it affects you AND the people around you. It’s not uncommon for spouses or partners to sleep in a different bed because their partner’s sleep apnea is out of control. In some cases, this problems can seriously damage a relationship. Sleep apnea also has been found to increase the risk of traffic accidents, and many studies have found that sleepy driving is equal to driving while intoxicated.

Put Your Sleep Apnea Problems Behind You

Dr. Ross is one of few dentists in the Novi MI area who can treat sleep apnea without a CPAP machine. The CPAP is still the gold standard for treating sleep apnea, but people find the machine intolerable. It can also affect the sleep of your bed partners. We’re using something so much easier than the CPAP. It’s a small oral appliance that you can wear anywhere. The appliance will reduce your sleep apnea symptoms almost immediately.

The process of resolving your sleep apnea symptoms is easy when you visit Dr. Ross. You simply schedule a visit by calling 248-697-2487. We’ll give you a sleep test that you can take in the comfort of your own bed. Most dentists would send you to a sleep lab, but not us!

Then, if you need treatment, we’ll take impressions of the mouth and design an oral appliance that will have you sleeping better than ever before. Don’t let sleep apnea damage your health — or the sanity of those around you. Call us today 248-697-2487 or use the online form to schedule a visit.