If you are one of the millions who suffer from sleep disturbances like snoring or sleep apnea, Dr. Colleran and his San Luis Obispo, California team can help you get a good night’s rest.
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can affect all areas of your life. Lack of quality sleep can cause anxiety, depression, or difficulty thinking. Untreated sleep apnea has also been linked to increased blood pressure, and insulin resistance which over time can lead to diabetes, heart attack, or stroke. If you are struggling to sleep we would like to be part of the solution.
Some of the common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include:
If you find yourself waking up exhausted after what seems like a “full night’s rest” or have noticed any of the above signs and symptoms, you may be suffering from sleep apnea.
Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk for serious systemic health problems, including:
Are you currently a CPAP user?
Your quality of life may be in distress
If you’re a CPAP user, chances are you haven’t spent much time traveling or camping. You may also have a heightened fear of power outages or situations where electricity may not be available during sleep hours. Relying on large, noisy electrical equipment to keep you breathing at night can put a serious damper on your dozing.
Your partner may also be suffering
According to the National Library of Medicine, sleep apnea can also have a negative effect on your relationship. Not only can it affect your partner’s sleep, mood, and daytime functioning, dealing with noisy CPAP equipment may also lead to separate sleeping arrangements.
Often sleep issues can be resolved with behavioral changes like diet and exercise. However, some patients require other interventions like oral appliance therapy. After a thorough examination, Dr. Colleran will determine if oral appliance therapy may work for you.
Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is an effective treatment option for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). An oral appliance is a small plastic device that fits in the mouth like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer, and is custom made just for you.
These oral appliances help prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat, keeping the airway open during sleep. An oral appliance may be used alone or in combination with other treatments for sleep-related breathing disorders, such as weight management, surgery, or a CPAP machine. Dr. Colleran can make a custom appliance just for you. These custom appliances are proven to be much more effective than over the counter appliances.
If you are concerned about the cost of an oral appliance, be aware that we offer options for in-office financing. We want each of our patients to be able to afford a good night’s sleep, ask us today about the options available. Give us a call and Schedule Online to discuss your unique needs at (805) 250-0324.
