A Dentist Who Personally Understands Your Struggle with Sleep Apnea

You may be surprised to hear a dentist talking about the problem of sleep apnea. However, sleep apnea is an area I’ve researched thoroughly, not just for my patients but for myself.

Sleep apnea is an area I’ve researched thoroughly, not just for my patients but for myself.

I personally have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. In 2002, I began to feel bad, not like myself. I ached most all the time, as if I had a mild case of the flu. I found myself taking one or two Advil a day, and this was very unlike me, because I really don’t like depending on medication to make me feel better. At night, I started waking up when I used to sleep the night through. Sometimes I noticed that the t-shirt I wore to bed was damp as if I had been sweating. In the mornings I just didn’t feel refreshed when I woke, but a strong cup of coffee seemed to help get me started.

During the day, I just didn’t seem to have any energy.  By the end of my workday, I was so tired that I would catch myself falling asleep at stoplights as I drove myself home. Finally, one day I literally fell asleep while driving home!  Fortunately, it was just a second or two.  I jerked and woke up before I caused a serious accident that could have harmed me or someone else. That’s when I decided I needed to talk to my doctor!

In 2002, I began to feel bad, not like myself. I ached most all the time, as if I had a mild case of the flu.

 

Lack of adequate sleep had seriously impacted my day-to-day functioning. In fact, sleep apnea can affect not only your overall level of functioning but also your dental health. People with sleep apnea tend to grind their teeth more often during sleep, which can be damaging to your teeth, your existing dental work, and your jaw joint.

Historically, treatments for snoring and sleep apnea have not been distinct specialty areas in dentistry. However, these problems can be addressed in the dental context in many cases. Working with a dentist to identify and treat your sleep apnea can often be an effective and less expensive route compared to a traditional sleep study.

Working with a dentist to identify and treat your sleep apnea can often be an effective and less expensive route compared to a traditional sleep study.

The information I share with my patients about sleep apnea is based on my close study of more than 75 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as what I’ve learned from attending several medical symposiums on sleep breathing disorders.

If you have questions about sleep apnea or other issues related to your dental health, I would be honored to assist you personally. Please don’t hesitate to call me at (816) 587-6444 or email me at drdeyton@drdeyton.com.