Sleep Apnea Treatment – Evanston, IL

Helping You Get The Rest
You Deserve

Frustrated woman in bed next to snoring man

If you have trouble sleeping or always wake up feeling tired and groggy, you are not alone. It is estimated that 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. In recent years, the disorder has become more widely recognized as a potentially life-damaging and life-shortening condition. At Winning Smile Dental Group, we are specially trained to recognize the symptoms and causes of sleep apnea as well as provide oral appliance therapy. With a small, custom-made mouthpiece, Dr. Polly Reese can drastically improve your sleep and overall wellbeing with sleep apnea treatment in our Evanston, IL denal office!

Why Choose Winning Smile Dental Group for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

  • Customized Oral Appliance Therapy
  • Proudly Accepting Dental Insurance
  • Custom-Created Oral Devices

Types of Sleep Apnea

Exhausted man in need of sleep apnea treatment

Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated cessations of breathing during the sleep cycle. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form that occurs due to the over-relaxation of the muscles in the back of the throat. Central sleep apnea is the result of improper signals sent from the brain to the muscles that control breathing. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of the two.

Symptoms & Causes of Sleep Apnea

Tired man in need of sleep apnea therapy

Because symptoms often overlap, the type of sleep apnea you suffer from may be difficult to determine. During your appointment, Dr. Polly Reese will ask you a series of questions and perform an exam to better diagnose your condition. The principal symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring and choking noises during sleep. Other common ones include:

  • Frequent stoppages in breathing, usually reported by a sleep partner
  • Abrupt arousal from sleep followed by shortness of breath
  • A sore throat or dry mouth in the morning
  • Difficulty staying asleep during the night and awake during the day
  • Difficulty staying focused during the day
  • Irritability issues/mood swings

Sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed until a partner notices the symptoms. If you or your sleep partner notice loud snoring, choking noises, intermittent gaps between breaths, or excessive daytime drowsiness, you may want to schedule an appointment with Winning Smile Dental Group.

While central and complex sleep apnea may be difficult to diagnose, obstructive sleep apnea has a very definitive cause. When the muscles in the back of your throat relax, your airway may narrow or close when you inhale. This can cause you to get an inadequate amount of breath and lower the level of oxygen in your blood. As a result, your brain senses your inability to properly breathe and awakens you from sleep. In many cases, this may be so brief that you do not remember it in the morning. These disruptions in sleep will impair your ability to reach a completely restful state.

Oral Appliance Therapy

Man placing sleep apnea oral appliance

Oral appliance therapy involves the use of a mouthguard to place the jaw in a forward position and maintain an open airway. During your appointment, Dr. Polly Reese will take an impression to make a 3D model of your teeth. The model is sent to our dental laboratory, where they will fabricate a custom-fitted mouthguard using a special plastic. It will be comfortable, easy to maintain, easy to transport, and provide an effective treatment against sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy can eliminate your symptoms and drastically improve the quality of your sleep and your life!