Sleep Apnea Treatment
Waking up tired, the snoring your partner mentioned, the morning headaches you put down to stress: they're easy to explain away, and they may all be connected.
Finding the reason you can't sleep well
Most people who have sleep apnea have no idea they do, because the signs are so easy to explain away: you're tired in the morning, but who isn't; your partner mentioned your snoring once; you wake up with headaches and assume it's stress. Dr. Daniel Dafo hears this every day at Namu Dental Care, and he takes it seriously, because sleep apnea left untreated is connected to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.
Checking on your sleep at every exam
Most patients don't know their dentist can screen for sleep apnea, but we can, and we do. The American Dental Association encourages dentists to screen because we see patients more regularly than their doctor does, and during an exam Dr. Dafo has a view of your airway and tongue position that a standard checkup can't provide. That means we can often flag a risk before the symptoms become serious. Dr. Dafo asks about sleep at every exam, and if the signs point to a higher risk, we talk through what makes sense next.
Taking your sleep study home
If Dr. Dafo believes a sleep study would help and your insurance approves it, we send you home with a small device, so you can skip the sleep clinic, the extra cost, and a wait that can stretch to a few months. It goes on your wrist with a sensor on your chest, you sleep in your own bed, and the results come to us the next morning: no waiting list, no clinic, and no night spent sleeping somewhere strange.
Resting easier with a slim oral appliance
If your CPAP is sitting in a drawer right now, you're not alone, and there is another option. CPAP works when it's used consistently, but many patients stop because the mask is uncomfortable and the tube gets in the way. The oral appliance looks like a slim night guard, with no mask, no tube, and no machine, and it gently moves your lower jaw forward while you sleep to keep your airway open. Most patients adapt within a couple of weeks and wonder how they managed with their CPAP for so long.
Sleeping well, and feeling it all day
One of Dr. Dafo's patients drives a truck for a living. After testing and a diagnosis, they started wearing an oral appliance and began sleeping well, staying alert and awake on the road. They stopped by just to say thank you, because getting their sleep back changed their work and the way they feel day to day.
Ask Dr. Dafo about your sleep at your next visit, or call us at (540) 288-9212 to schedule a screening.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a dentist treat sleep apnea?
Yes, for mild and moderate sleep apnea. Dr. Dafo works alongside a sleep specialist and treats it with an oral appliance you wear at night: it looks like a slim night guard and gently moves your lower jaw forward to keep your airway open while you sleep.Do I have to spend the night in a sleep clinic?
Usually not. If Dr. Dafo believes a sleep study would help and your insurance approves it, we send you home with a small device: it goes on your wrist with a sensor on your chest, you sleep in your own bed, and the results come to us the next morning, so you skip the cost and the wait that can come with a clinic.My CPAP is sitting in a drawer. What are my options?
You're not alone, and there is another option. For mild and moderate sleep apnea, an oral appliance works with no mask, no tube and no machine, and most patients adapt within a few weeks.Do you treat sleep apnea in children?
When we see signs of sleep apnea in a child, we refer them to a specialist.
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