San Francisco patients ask, “Will I need surgery to correct my sleep apnea?”
Does it feel like you never get a good night of sleep? When the alarm goes off, do you wonder if you’ve slept at all? For years doctors have told us that restful sleep is critical to your health and wellness. However, for some patients, sleepless nights are not caused by a challenging day at work, it’s caused by sleep apnea, a common condition that can affect your sleep.
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes patients to stop breathing when they sleep. These episodes of not breathing can last for more than 10 seconds and can happen over and over, up to 90 times each hour. Symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, gasping for air that may wake you up, waking up with a dry throat and mouth, and unexplained headaches.
If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may wonder if you’ll need surgery or a machine used every night to address it. Getting treatment for sleep apnea is critical. During a sleep apnea episode, oxygen flow to the brain stops, which can lead to further medical problems. While surgery or a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine can be prescribed, many patients look for another option as surgery can be frightening and the CPAP machine can be uncomfortable and cumbersome.
Dr. Leo Arellano in San Francisco has helped many patients find relief from sleep apnea without an awkward machine or surgery. Instead, he fits the patient for an oral appliance, like that of a sports mouth guard, to wear while sleeping. The mouth appliance shifts the jaw, which prevents the tongue from covering up the airway.
For more information, call the office of Dr. Leo Arellano to schedule an appointment. Our team is expertly trained and dedicated to helping our patients achieve the best dental, and overall, health care.
