Sleep Apnea Treatment

Our dentist is pleased to provide quality treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in Ephrata, Washington. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder that results in pauses in breathing during sleep. This is caused by obstructions in the airway, such as your tongue rolling back in your mouth or your airway tissues collapsing. For some patients, this can result in hundreds of breathing interruptions in a single night. Because OSA leads to decreased levels of oxygen in the body, it can be a potentially life threatening condition, and it may also contribute to several serious health problems. You may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea if you experience the following symptoms:

•Frequent morning headaches

•Awakening with a very dry or sore throat

•Loud, chronic snoring

•Difficulty focusing

•Excessive daytime drowsiness

•Difficulty staying asleep

•Sensations of choking or gasping during sleep

•Personality changes and increased irritability

To treat sleep apnea, Dr. Brian Jacobsen offers multiple solutions. For our patients who suffer from mild to moderate OSA, we may suggest an oral appliance that works by keeping your airway clear and open while you sleep. For more serious cases, we may recommend CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy, which is a machine that includes a mask. The mask fits over your face and increases air pressure in your throat so the airway does not collapse as you sleep. For more information about sleep apnea treatment, and to schedule your next visit to Jacobsen Dental, please contact us today.