Sleep Apnea

Serving Kansas City, Overland Park and Shawnee

Sleep apnea occurs when a sleeping, snoring individual sucks their tongue against the back of the throat, blocking the upper airway and halting air flow. When this occurs, breathing can stop for as long as one minute, during which time the oxygen levels in the brain become low. When the brain senses that it is not getting enough oxygen, it sends out distress signals that cause the individual to gasp loudly, slightly awakening them enough to begin breathing once again.

This series of steps can happen hundreds of time in one night. As you can imagine, people with obstructive sleep apnea don't get much rest and very little of the precious REM sleep that is so essential to refueling our bodies. This leads to excessive daytime sleepiness, low blood oxygen levels, and cardiovascular problems. Stroke and heart attack can also occur.

If you suspect you might have obstructive sleep apnea, please make an appointment to see Dr. Alberto Castaneda of Discover Dental Care, Shawnee, KS.

Oral Appliance Therapy, offered by Dr. Castaneda, is an effective therapy for individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. The oral appliance is a small plastic device worn in the mouth, similar to a retainer. The device is worn during sleep and helps the snoring individual to keep an open unobstructed airway in the throat. Oral appliance therapy can be used in conjunction with other therapies designed to treat sleep apnea, such as weight management, CPAP or even surgery. Oral appliances are an alternative to CPAP for those with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

There are various treatment methods available today to treat sleep apnea, and Dr. Castaneda will explain these to you at the time of your visit.

Contact Dr. Castaneda today! Discover Dental Care serves patients in Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe, Mission, Overland Park and Kansas City, KS.

* required | Privacy Policy