1001 Medical Plaza Dr.
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Woodlands Dental Group

What Is Sleep Apnea and What Can I Do About It?

added on: November 4, 2022

Is there a snoring issue in your house? Believe it or not, this is something The Woodlands Dental Group wants to hear about. You might wonder why you need to tell your dentist that you’re snoring or having trouble sleeping. What does that have to do with cavities and teeth cleanings? 

The truth is this: Our Woodlands dentists, like Dr. Alisa Reed, know your mouth, head, neck, and throat better than anyone else. We’re trained to see abnormalities and treat issues like a potentially dangerous, snoring-related condition called obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.

Take a minute to understand more about sleep apnea and what you can do to stay healthy.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that describes when someone stops breathing each night, sometimes hundreds of times during their sleep cycle, without knowing it due to a blockage in the airway. This ongoing condition is often left undiagnosed and untreated, simply seen as snoring — end of story. However, having this problem means you’re continually getting less oxygen and poor-quality rest, that’s not the best for anyone at any age. Studies show sleep apnea generally affects about 25 percent of men and nearly ten percent of women. 

Your dentist in The Woodlands is highly trained to look for evidence of excessive or enlarged:

  • Soft tissue in your throat
  • Tonsils or adenoids
  • Tongue
  • Overbite

These things can contribute to snoring, sleep apnea, or worse. 

Don’t Ignore Your Snoring

Getting help for snoring or sleep apnea is essential to protecting your future oral and overall health. Please talk with The Woodlands Dental Group about your nighttime breathing issues, which could be damaging your daytime health and wellbeing. 

Schedule an appointment and talk to Dr. Reed or any of our Woodlands dentists today. She’s licensed and covered by your medical insurance to diagnose and treat sleep apnea. We can provide you with an at-home sleep study and work with a network of physicians who can read and evaluate the results. If the testing shows that your sleep apnea is severe, we will refer you to a physician within our network for more advanced treatment. If your sleep apnea is mild to moderate, we can fit you with a small, comfortable, easy-to-wear oral appliance.

Are you ready to learn more? Don’t let sleep apnea win while you continue to lose sleep. Help is a phone call or a message away at The Woodlands Dental Group. 

For more information, please contact us today: 

Dr. Robert Dernick (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry, and TMJ) 

Dr. Mike Freeman (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ) 

Dr. Alisa Reed (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Laser, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ)

Dr. Wade Williams (Orthodontics)

Dr. Nikita Vakil (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry)

Dr. Leslie Blackburn (Pediatric Dentistry)