Do you find yourself tired each day, even though you’re getting the recommended hours of sleep each night? Do you find yourself dealing with snoring, daytime headaches, and poor memory and concentration? If you are experiencing these symptoms, it may be time to speak to a professional about getting tested for obstructive sleep apnea. Approximately 12 million Americans are affected by sleep apnea, and many go undiagnosed. 

What is obstructive sleep apnea? 

Dr. Ania Mohelicki and the team at her practice in Boulder, Colorado describe obstructive sleep apnea, or “OSA,” as a condition that can cause patients to stop breathing hundreds of times each night. This causes patients to experience a wake/sleep cycle that never allows them to reach the deeper, restorative levels of sleep that help them feel their best each day. It is often caused by an obstruction of the airway, including excess fat on the throat or the tongue falling back into the back of the throat. 

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea 

Some of the more common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include: 

• Shortness of breath at night
• Chronic snoring and gasping
• Insomnia/trouble sleeping
• Choking/snorting sounds during the night
• Morning headaches/migraines
• Poor concentration and memory
• Extreme daytime drowsiness and fatigue
• Periods of falling asleep during the day

What can a dentist do for OSA? 

Obstructive sleep apnea is often addressed with a CPAP machine, which is a device that is prescribed by a doctor to use at night to keep the airways open. However, this machine can be cumbersome and many patients stop using it. Instead, a dentist such as Dr. Ania Mohelicki may suggest the use of a special oral appliance to wear at night and keep the airways open. This device is small, comfortable, affordable, and improves patient compliance when compared to traditional CPAP usage. 

Call your dentist today 

If you believe you are dealing with OSA, it might be time to talk to a physician or dentist about treatment. Contact Dr. Ania Mohelicki of Boulder, Colorado at 303-443-0998 to request a consultation visit with her team and learn more about the diagnosis and treatment of this and other dental concerns. Her facility is open to new and established patients and families at 2919 Valmont Road, Suite #106.