Sleep Apnea Treatment in Little Rock, AR

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common health problem that impacts millions of people, and many are unaware that they are suffering from it. Studies reveal that up to 90% of people with the disorder are living undiagnosed and untreated. Due to the negative impact of this condition, if you are suffering from the symptoms, it is important to seek sleep apnea treatment in Little Rock, AR.

Sleep apnea is characterized by breath pauses during sleep that can last for 20 to 30 seconds. Symptoms of sleep apnea include choking, snoring, snorting, and teeth grinding while sleeping, which is why it is often the sufferer’s partner who first notices the condition.

Types of Sleep Apnea

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA):

Central sleep apnea is caused by a disease or injury involving the brainstem, which causes delayed signals from the brain to the breathing muscles, therefore decreasing oxygen levels in the body.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA):

Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common type and is caused by a blocked airway due to conditions such as over-relaxed tongue and muscles, bone and facial structure deformities, and obesity. A blocked airway can drastically impact breathing and result in snorting and gasping for air.

The lack of oxygen causes snoring and periodic waking during the night, and the person suffering from obstructive sleep apnea may not even be aware of these issues while they sleep.

Both types of sleep apnea stem from different causes, but the effects are the same, including:

• Reduced levels of oxygen in the brain 
• excessive daytime sleepiness 
• depression 
• fatigue
• poor sleep. 

Sleep apnea can also directly affect the health of your teeth due to teeth grinding (bruxism), which can yield worn or flat teeth and broken dental work. If the oxygen level reaches a critically low level, sleep apnea can also lead to heart irregularities and high blood pressure.

Sleep Apnea Treatment in Little Rock, AR

Are you concerned that you or a loved one has a form of sleep apnea? Getting screened early can help prevent serious long-term health consequences.

Little Rock dentists, Dr. Sam Cason and Dr. David Reynolds, will screen for sleeping disorders and work with your specialist to determine if apnea is present. In some cases, you can even have a take-home sleep study performed for formal diagnosis without an overnight trip to the sleep lab.

Our Treatment Process 

Your consultation:

At the consult appointment, we will discuss our clinical findings with patients and explain how these can be signs of sleep apnea. We will go over the risk factors of sleep apnea and explain why it is important to get a good night’s rest. 

We will follow up with questions and a sleep questionnaire to evaluate if a patient is going to be a good candidate for oral appliance therapy (OAT). From there, we will ask if the patient has ever been diagnosed with sleep apnea. If so, when was their sleep study? If the sleep study is within the past two years, we will get the results from the sleep physician. If not, we will send the patient home with HST. At this point, we will also get patients’ information for medical insurance and have our 3^rd party company begin determining benefits.

Taking your Home Sleep Test (HST): 

We provide the patient with HST to take home with them and wear for one night. This process is much less invasive and with fewer wires and leads than traditional sleep study. A small device is worn at night strapped around the patient’s abdomen. One lead goes around the ears and under the nose to measure airflow, and the other attaches to the patient’s finger to measure oxygen saturation.

The patient can sleep in their own bed without a dozen wires connected to them or people watching them sleep. The patient will bring the device back to us the next day, and we will upload the data to have a certified sleep physician read the study and recommend treatment. 

Obtaining your records: 

Once insurance is verified and the study has been interpreted, we can begin taking records for the OAT. This involves a 3D scan and bite registration. Once this is complete, the appliance will be back from the lab in around 2-3 weeks. 

Picking up your appliance: 

At the delivery appointment, we will try the appliance in and make any necessary adjustments, instruct the patient on what to expect while wearing the appliance, as well as provide cleaning instructions. We will also make a morning aligner to make sure the upper and lower jaws go back together the way they are supposed to.  

Your follow up appointment: 

We will see the patient after a couple of weeks of wearing the appliance, and check to see if we need to make any further adjustments. At this point, we will send the patient home with the HST again to document improvement in sleep apnea.

The Advantages of OAT: 

• Much more comfortable and less restrictive than traditional CPAP machines, according to patient testimonies. 
• The patient can sleep in any position without having a hose get in the way.
• Easier to travel with
• Can treat mild to moderate OSA just as effectively as CPAP
• For patients who are CPAP intolerant, this is a great alternative
• Patients’ bed partner will also get a better night’s sleep
• More energy and focus throughout the day with better quality sleep

We use a 3^rd party medical billing company to handle the insurance to ensure the patients will get the maximum coverage for their appliance. 

We work with local sleep physicians and patients’ PCP to ensure an accurate diagnosis as well as proper treatment, so patients are getting the best option for their sleep apnea diagnosis.

Contact Us to Learn More about Sleep Apnea Treatment in Little Rock, AR

Contact us today to get assessed for Sleep Apnea treatment. Let’s find the best solution for a better night’s sleep. Call us at 501-406-0569 today. We look forward to hearing from you.