Treat Your Sleep Apnea - Sleep Better and Feel Great
Sleep apnea is a serious condition where a person stops breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea symptoms include loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and numerous interruptions in sleep. This can lead to a variety of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Sleep apnea is one of the most serious sleep disorders for the negative health impacts that it brings. Sleep problems caused by sleep apnea become more common as people age. Sleep apnea is also more common among the obese who tend to have a larger tongue and soft palate, which restricts the airway size.
At our Fort Collins dental office, we have numerous ways for our patients to be tested for sleep apnea. We also have treatments available to mitigate the effects to help our sleep apnea patients get better sleep with fewer interruptions.
Diagnosing Sleep Apnea with WatchPat
Historically, to determine if you have sleep apnea, a test would have to be conducted in a sleep center (also called a sleep clinic). Fortunately, we now have an easy-to-use portable take-home diagnostic test for sleep apnea called WatchPAT.
WatchPAT (r), is an innovative FDA-Cleared portable home apnea test diagnostic device that utilizes cutting-edge technologies to detect sleep apnea. The WatchPAT (r), a home sleep study device, is simple to use, reliable, and accurate.
To get a truly accurate test, it helps to make the test conditions as representative of your actual sleep environment as possible. WatchPAT (r), was created with patients in mind. It allows you to test your sleep apnea in the privacy of your bedroom. WatchPAT’s home sleep device is easy to use and it interferes as little as possible with your sleep experience. This ensures the best possible experience.
WatchPAT’s home sleep test device is easy to use because it has three points of contact. You can prepare for sleep just like you would normally. Before you go to sleep:
- Attach the chest sensor
- Attach the WatchPAT home sleep-apnea test wrist to your hand
- Put the probe on your finger
WatchPat Videos
The WatchPat videos below show you just how easy this diagnostic device is to use.
Step by Step How to Use WatchPat 300
Step by Step How to Use WatchPat ONE
Sleep Apnea Treatment
If you are positively diagnosed with sleep apnea, we have two treatment options available at our Fort Collins office: Mouth Devices and Night Lase. Both of our patient treatment options are less bulky and restrictive than a CPAP machine, and both can provide you with a great, restful sleep – with fewer sleep interruptions for you and your partner.
Mouth Devices
MAD – A mandibular advancement device is a custom-fit dental device that helps to keep your airway open while you sleep. This oral appliance is able to keep your airway open by gently keeping your lower jaw slightly in front of your upper teeth. The MAD keeps your jaw and tongue well in front of the back of the throat – providing additional space for your airway. The result is easier breathing and a decrease in the number of hypopnea and sleep apnea events you experience during sleep
After you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you’ll set up a patient appointment for a custom-fit MAD device at our Fort Collins dental office. Dr. Murphy will do a full examination of your mouth and your bite and create a custom MAD that will keep your airway open at night when you’re sleeping.
Fotona NightLase (Device Free Option)
Fotona’s NightLase is a non-invasive laser treatment that improves the quality of sleep for the patient. NightLase decreases sleep apnea’s effects and reduces snoring amplitude by using a gentle, completely safe, laser-energy to heat the tissues of the airways causing a tightening effect which helps to keep your airway open. NightLase requires no anesthesia, is quick, comfortable and you can resume your daily routine immediately afterwards.
Huge Advantage of NightLase: NO DEVICES REQUIRED
With NightLase, you don’t have to wear any devices at night and the effects can last up to a year before you need additional treatment. The treatment is performed in our office – and there is nothing to wear or insert into your mouth at night.
The result is that you get a better night’s sleep without dealing with a cumbersome CPAP machine which can be uncomfortable.
The NightLase Sleep Apnea Treatment
You will come into our office for three non-surgical sessions of treatment over six weeks. Each session lasts only about 20 minutes..
Patients have experienced immediate results on the very first day of treatment – achieving an average of 50% reduction in snoring. The effects of the treatment can last for up to one year!
Are There Medications to Cure Sleep Apnea?
As of right now, sleep apnea treatments using devices, or technology like NightLase are the most effective at mitigating the effects of sleep apnea. There really isn’t a sleep medicine that can cure sleep apnea – and many medicines that help you to fall asleep can actually make sleep apnea worse.
