Sleep Apnea in Boulder, CO

What Are the Types of Sleep Apnea?

So… what is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by a person’s breathing stopping and starting throughout the night. There are three main types of sleep apnea, and all can cause snoring, feelings of tiredness even after a full night of sleep, and possibly serious health issues:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea and is caused by muscles in the throat relaxing to the point of blocking the flow of air into the lungs. Once the brain realizes that air is not flowing, the person will wake up just enough to restart their breathing.
• Central Sleep Apnea is a problem with the brain and occurs when your subconscious mind doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
• Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome is the term indicating that a person is affected by both obstructive and central sleep apnea. It is also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

An estimated 80% of people with obstructive sleep apnea are undiagnosed. Yes, this is a shocking statistic! Being aware of the symptoms is the first step towards getting help.

The most common signs and symptoms include:

• Snoring
• Gasping for air during sleep or breathing pauses during sleep
• Awakening with a dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Difficulty paying attention while awake
• Irritability
• TMJ Disorder

At BOCO Dental, we use technology developed by SleepImage to assess your sleep quality objectively. All sleep data is diagnosed by a certified Sleep MD. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, please schedule a consultation with us.

While dental anxiety is perfectly understandable, it is important to remember that advances in the dental field, along with a team of dental professionals committed to providing the most comfortable experience possible, have allowed patients to achieve much more relaxing visits to the dentist’s office. 

Dr. Patt will be happy to talk with you about your needs and explore options that can help relieve fears and anxieties during your treatment.