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    Hawkins Family Dentistry - Midlothian

    Sleep Apnea Treatment in Midlothian

    Get help for your sleep apnea and snoring problems and finally get some quality sleep.
    Call 804-944-8984

    All about sleep apnea

    Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to breathe while you sleep. Sleep apnea can disrupt your sleeping more than 30 times a night and is characterized by pauses in normal breathing, gasping in your sleep, waking up with headaches, feeling foggy and tired during the day and, most infamously, excessive snoring that might keep your partner awake.

      There are two main types of sleep apnea:
    • Obstructive Sleep Apnea - The most common form of sleep apnea, caused by tissues in the back of the throat collapsing and blocking the airway during sleep.
    • Central Sleep Apnea - This form of apnea is caused by a disruption in the communication patterns between your brain and muscles which leads to a breathing disruption.

    What are the benefits of sleep apnea treatment?

    It goes without saying that a good night’s sleep is essential to our emotional and physical well-being. Even if you can’t remember waking up at night, sleep apnea is still disturbing your sleep cycle and this can have short-term and long-term effects on your health, relationships and quality of life. Besides finally getting a good night’s sleep, what are some of the benefits of sleep apnea treatment?

    Better physical health

    Believe it or not, treating your sleep apnea will reduce your risk of high blood pressure, heart issues, the risk of type 2 diabetes, liver problems and reduces stress on your metabolic system. Combating sleep apnea may also alleviate the extra risk associated with surgery or drug therapy.

    Feel like normal again

    Do you ever feel like you’re forgetting something? Or can’t quite find the words you’re looking for? Sleep apnea sufferers often report waking up feeling groggy and feel stuck in a brain fog all day. With sleep apnea treatment, patients report feeling sharper, focused and more like themselves again.

    Strengthen your relationships

    Treating your sleep apnea is good for both you and your partner. By reducing or stopping your restlessness and snoring altogether you will also give your partner a higher quality, uninterrupted night of sleep. Both of you will wake up with an improved mood. Facing the day with a fresh slate will make parenting, work and relationships feel a lot more enjoyable. Your good mood is catching.

    How is sleep apnea treated?

    There are several options for treating sleep apnea depending on the cause and severity of your apnea. It’s also important for us to find a solution that suits your lifestyle.

    Lifestyle changes

    The good news is that mild cases of sleep apnea can be treated right at home. The dentist may recommend losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, changing the way you sleep, following sleep hygiene recommendations, and quitting smoking. These recommendations are so safe and effective, we often recommend them even in tandem with other treatments.

    Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

    Currently the most common treatment for sleep apnea, you may already be familiar with CPAP machines. A mask is worn over the nose and/or mouth while you sleep. The mask is connected to a machine that delivers a constant steady stream of air that helps keep your airways open so you can breathe normally. There are different kinds of masks and machines available depending on your needs and what you’re comfortable sleeping with.

    Oral appliances

    There are a few appliances that are worn in the mouth while sleeping that can alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. They typically look and feel a bit like a mouthguard. Their function will depend on what’s causing your sleep apnea symptoms and they may alleviate snoring, pull the jaw forward to keep your airway clear or stabilize your tongue.

    Surgery and medication

    Some causes of sleep apnea can be treated with surgery or medication. The most common types of surgery for sleep apnea problems include repairing a deviated septum in the nose, fixing a narrow throat or airway, or making adjustments to the jaw area to relieve throat blockages.

    Contact us today

    to schedule an initial consultation & exam.

    Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The symptoms of sleep apnea could be summed up as not being able to sleep deeply and suffering the consequences of that. A sleep apnea sufferer might snore often or loudly, silently pause breathing while sleeping, wake up in the night choking and gasping, find themselves having to use the washroom at night, and wake up feeling completely dissatisfied with their sleep. During the day they may have headaches, difficulty concentrating, feel irritable, have memory loss or foggy brain and may experience a decline in sexual desire.
    Sleep apnea has many different possible causes. In adults, the most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea and the most common cause of that is excess weight and obesity. You can’t be sure of what kind of sleep apnea you have or the cause until you are examined by a professional.
    When suffering from a lack of oxygen due to sleep apnea, your brain senses your inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so that you can open your airway. This awakening can be so brief that you don’t even remember it the next day. You may be briefly waking up 30 times or more per night without remembering a thing, just feeling groggy the next morning.
    You may have an increased risk of sleep apnea if you are overweight, male, have a family history of sleep apnea or poor sleeping, use alcohol or sleeping pills, smoke, or have nasal congestion. In addition, sleep apnea occurs much more often in older adults.
    Research suggests that sleeping on your side (Also know as the lateral sleeping position) is the best sleeping position for relieving sleep apnea and snoring.
    While most people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight, there are many causes of sleep apnea and thin people can develop the disorder too.

    What Our Patients Are Saying

    For more than 15 years, we've earned our 5-star reputation as one of the most trusted dental care providers for residents of Midlothian, Chesterfield, Powhatan, and the Greater Richmond area. We love our patients, and it seems they love us too!

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    Jane Atsanyuk
    Jane Atsanyuk
    1 week ago
    Our visit today was outstanding. The staff was professional, welcoming, and incredibly good with my children, ensuring they felt comfortable throughout the visit. The level of care and attention to detail was truly impressive. We are grateful for such a positive experience. Highly recommend for families.
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    Christin
    Christin
    2 weeks ago
    Had Invisalign done to correct crooked bottom teeth and the experience was seamless and easy. Only took a few months to correct and the team was great ensuring everything was straight and looked amazing!
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    Gregory Milner
    Gregory Milner
    2 weeks ago
    The team @ Hawkins Family Dentistry is great! My appointments always start promptly. The staff are genuinely courteous. My self, my wife & our daughter all go there since moving to Midlothian and no one has a single complaint.
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    Doug Cornell
    Doug Cornell
    1 month ago
    Hawkins Family Dentistry is the best dental practice in all of Virginia. Dr. Hawkins takes the time to explain the options and then moves quickly to get the job done. The support personnel are phenomenal, especially Brittney, who always is helpful and is usually assigned to me. They are also one of the most technically advanced dental practices I have ever seen. Great dentist I would highly recommend.
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    Brittany Schmitt
    Brittany Schmitt
    2 months ago
    I needed a whole bunch of fillings done, and was really dreading it because my experience with fillings at a previous dentist was terrible. Dr. Hawkins and his team put me at ease from the very beginning, and were so gracious and thoughtful the whole time. And my teeth feel great! These people are seriously good at what they do, and more importantly, it’s easy to see they care about people. Highly recommend!
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