Dr. Buchanan’s Patient Guide for Sleep Apnea
From ensuring proper brain function to healing and repairing blood vessels, sleep plays an important role in your mental and physical well-being. When patients consistently miss out on a good night’s rest because of sleep apnea, it doesn’t take long for the condition to compromise your quality of life.
Dr. Jennifer Buchanan’s goal is to raise patient awareness about the serious sleeping disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to help provide treatments for them. By coordinating care with physicians and local sleep medicine specialists, your sleep and overall health will substantially improve.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which there is an obstruction at the back of the throat caused by the collapse of soft tissue and results in improper breathing patterns. These disruptions can occur dozens of times in an hour, causing sufferers to briefly wake up and lose sleep. When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to severe health consequences such as heart failure, strokes, and even depression.
Proactive diagnosis and tailored treatment are crucial to helping patients get the sleep they deserve. At Jennifer Buchanan, DDS, our San Rafael dentist is your partner in getting a better night’s rest.
Causes & Symptoms
Sleep apnea can affect every aspect of your life. Beyond impacting your ability to sleep, other symptoms you may experience include drowsiness, memory loss, irritability, and morning headaches. This can affect your overall health and productivity which can greatly impacting your quality of life.
Knowing the causes and symptoms of this sleeping disorder can help you receive a diagnosis from a physician and appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Jennifer Buchanan DDS may use sleep apnea screenings to help patients better identify the warning signs they’re experiencing.
Sleep Apnea Treatments
With conventional treatment, sleep apnea can be a manageable disorder. By coordinating care with Dr. Buchanan, she can help manage your sleep apnea through the use of various dental oral devices based on your specific needs.
Oral appliances are known as the most popular alternative for patients who can’t tolerate their CPAP mask. Many sleep apnea sufferers complain their CPAP is loud, inconvenient, and claustrophobic. Customized oral mouthpieces are Dr. Buchanan’s number one recommendation for treating your sleeping condition due to their easy use, small size, and quiet sound.