Effective Sleep Apnea Treatment Solutions in Parker, CO
Get a Better Night’s Sleep with Twin Aspen Dental Center
Do you suffer from loud, chronic snoring followed by sore throats, headaches, or feelings of daytime fatigue? You may have sleep apnea, which is a severe medical condition affecting your health and quality of life. Although not every dentist is equipped to help with sleep apnea, Twin Aspen Dental Center is proud to offer sleep apnea treatment at our Parker, CO practice. As part of our snoring treatment options, we can create custom-made oral appliances, or mouthguards, for patients of all ages. These devices may be used to supplement or replace your CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine, depending on the severity of your sleep apnea symptoms. Prevent tiredness and get a better night’s sleep thanks to our tried-and-true sleep apnea treatment, which is usually covered by your medical or dental insurance. Contact us today to request a consultation with Dr. Richter and learn how our specialized oral appliance therapy can help you change your life!
How Can a Dentist Help Me with My Sleep Apnea?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), sleep apnea occurs when your airways become partially or fully blocked while you’re sleeping. This results in your oxygen being cut off for 10 seconds or more at a time, causing your brain to wake you up, so you can readjust your sleeping position accordingly.
When this repeatedly happens throughout your sleep cycle, it prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. Over time, the condition may also cause more life-threatening consequences, including high blood pressure, short-term memory loss, and an increased risk for heart attacks and strokes. While you should always consult your physician first for a diagnosis and treatment options, your doctor may refer you to your dentist for a custom-fitted oral appliance to be worn while you sleep. Many patients with mild-to-moderate sleep apnea symptoms prefer such devices over the alternative of a CPAP machine, which features bulky, noisy, and uncomfortable equipment. Some patients may see optimal results from combining oral appliance therapy with CPAP therapy, though you’ll need to talk to your doctor before beginning treatment.
How Does Oral Appliance Therapy Prevent Snoring?
Oral appliances for sleep apnea open your airway by holding your jaw forward and open while you sleep. This gives your tongue more room, so it doesn’t collapse your airway, which often eliminates snoring. While snoring and sleep apnea are related, one who snores doesn’t always have sleep apnea.
However, people with sleep apnea almost always snore. If you suspect you or a loved one may suffer from sleep apnea, you should consult your physician. They may recommend a sleep study to record the number of times you stop breathing per hour and to monitor your oxygen levels and other symptoms during these occurrences. Obesity is one of the leading causes of sleep apnea, so your doctor may also suggest making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, and altering your diet as part of your sleep apnea treatment plan. For some individuals, surgery may be necessary as a last resort.
Why Should I Visit My Dentist for an Oral Appliance?
When you visit our dentist at Twin Aspen Dental Center, your oral appliance is custom-made to fit only you. It will be adjusted before fabrication and then throughout several follow-up appointments to ensure a perfect fit. You want your oral appliance to be within 1mm of accuracy to provide the most unrestricted airflow at night. The generic ones you can order from late-night infomercials on television, or buy off a shelf at the local store are hit or miss, but mostly a miss because they aren’t custom-made for your individual mouth.
Are Oral Appliances Covered by Dental Insurance?
Most of the costs associated with oral appliances are covered by your medical or dental insurance. Medicare patients can even opt for one of these appliances without insurance pre-authorization. Depending on your specific plan and coverage, out-of-pocket expenses are rarely over $300. If you opt for an at-home sleep study beforehand, you could pay as little as $200. It’s rare to pay over $500 for a custom-made oral appliance, although even if you do, many of our patients have discussed how the value of eliminating your snoring and getting a good night’s sleep is worth it. Twin Aspen Dental Center accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, as well as most major dental insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Delta, DentaMax, and UnitedHealthcare. We also offer third-party financing through CareCredit and Lending Point for qualified patients. Our online billing portal makes paying your bill convenient and hassle-free from home.
Request a Consultation at Twin Aspen Dental Center
Are you interested in learning more about the benefits of our sleep apnea treatment in Parker, CO? We urge you to reach out and request a consultation today. If left untreated, sleep apnea presents life-threatening consequences. While there is no cure for sleep apnea, studies have shown a significant reduction in snoring for a better night’s sleep with custom-fitted oral appliances from your dentist. Prevent restless nights and daytime tiredness by consulting our team!