Nov
Sleep apnea is becoming a common health concern for Lake Oswego residents. Dr. Brad Sievert and the team at Westlake Family Dentistry offer treatment options for patients dealing with the effects of sleep apnea. Understanding what causes sleep apnea is the key to finding an appropriate treatment plan. Working with your dentist and other healthcare professionals will help you get your apnea under control.
Sleep apnea is easily recognized by the constant disruptions in a person’s breathing pattern. They can stop breathing more than one hundred times each night. Other characteristics include:
A person dealing with sleep apnea may experience all or just a few of these symptoms.
Sleep apnea has many causes. It’s not just because someone is overweight. When something blocks the breathing passage, it is referred to as obstructive sleep apnea. If the tongue is allowed to slide back in the mouth during sleep, this is one type of obstructive sleep apnea.
Oral appliance therapy is one way your dentist can treat your sleep apnea. Each appliance is customized to the individual. The device will fit securely in the mouth, holding the jaw and tongue in place so they will no longer obstruct your airway. Wearing the appliance every night will allow you to breathe normally while you sleep and eliminate any disruptions. With an oral appliance, you will not have to use a noisy CPAP machine.
If you live in the Lake Oswego, Oregon area and suffer from sleep apnea, contact Westlake Family Dentistry and schedule an appointment with Dr. Brad Sievert. After a thorough examination, Dr. Sievert will create an oral appliance customized just for you. By monitoring your sleep apnea, he can make any adjustments that may be needed. Existing patients should call (503) 386-4164 to schedule an appointment. New patients must call (503) 386-4164.
Dr. Brad Sievert holds a zoology degree from Oregon State University and a DMD from Oregon Health Sciences University. He is passionate about continuing education and regularly attends cosmetic, complex restorative, dental sleep medicine, Invisalign, and implant dentistry courses. He has had post-doctoral training at the prestigious KOIS Center in Seattle and the Los Angeles Institute of Clinical Dentistry. Dr. Sievert is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is also certified in laser dentistry and as a Healthy Start Provider.