Sleep Apnea– Dunwoody, GA
Quality Treatment to Achieve Better Rest
Do you suspect that you may be suffering from sleep apnea? The very first step in this process, of course, is to obtain a concrete diagnosis, and that’s where Dr. Rodgers and his team come in. We’ll ask you to complete a brief, easy sleep questionnaire, found here on our website. After receiving and assessing your results, Dr. Rodgers will determine whether or not a further sleep study is needed.
If you suffer from OSA, oral appliance therapy could provide the reinvigorating results you need. In cases of severe OSA or CSA, traditional CPAP therapy or combination therapy might be the more effective option. Our Dunwoody, GA team will work with you to figure out the ideal solution for you.
Why Choose Sleep Better Georgia for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- Completely Personalized Treatment Plans
- Sleep Expert with Decades of Experience
- Welcomes Medical Insurance & Flexible Financing
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a health condition that causes short, constant pauses in a patient’s breathing while they rest. Although they typically don’t last more than a handful of seconds, these interruptions can occur up to hundreds of times each night, resulting in fractured, ineffective sleep. In some cases, sleep apnea occurs when a patient’s brain simply fails to send the proper signal for inhalation and exhalation – this is known as central sleep apnea (CSA). More commonly, patients will experience these pauses because their airway becomes partially or fully blocked – this is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Some patients may experience both to varying degrees, even.
Sleep apnea symptoms can be so complex and so varied that countless people (up to 80% of all cases, even) are not diagnosed correctly for far too long. Common symptoms that should indicate a cause for concern include:
- Loud, chronic snoring
- Problems with memory and/or concentration
- Constant morning headaches
- Sore throat in the morning
- Dry mouth in the morning
- Behavioral changes and/or constant mood swings
- Extreme daytime exhaustion
- Choking, gasping, and periods of complete silence during sleep
The Consequences of Sleep Apnea
While you may think that sleep apnea only causes trouble when you’re sleeping or trying to fall asleep, the truth is that it can have many dangerous consequences that affect both your mental and overall health. The good news is that often, treating sleep apnea can help alleviate the symptoms of these other issues, helping you feel your best whether you’re awake or at rest.
Mental Health
When you’re exhausted and sleep deprived, your mental health can easily suffer. In fact, studies have shown that patients with untreated sleep apnea are more likely to have depression and anxiety, as well as suffer from cognitive decline and memory loss.
Digestive Health
With obstructive sleep apnea, pressure changes in the airway can result in gastrointestinal problems like GERD (acid reflux). It can also cause indigestion, heartburn, fatty liver, and even irritable bowel disease (IBD). Digestive issues with sleep apnea are what is known as “bidirectional” meaning that both can negatively affect each other and treating either can help both.
Immunity
When you stop breathing throughout the night due to sleep apnea, your oxygen levels drop. This is known as hypoxia. That, in combination with fragmented sleep, can in turn cause chronic inflammation, poor immune cell function, and oxidative stress, all of which weaken the body’s immune system and leave you more susceptible to colds and infections. Worse yet, it often makes the ones you do develop take longer to heal from.
Insulin Levels, Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome
Obstructive sleep apnea has been shown to significantly increase insulin and blood sugar levels by driving up insulin resistance. This can not only worsen metabolic syndrome, but it can also increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes. For patients who already have these conditions, sleep apnea can make them much harder to manage.
Respiratory System
Because sleep apnea occurs in the airway, it can cause a variety of problems within the respiratory system. These may include airway collapse, and damage and inflammation to the lung tissue. It may also worsen existing respiratory issues, including COPD, asthma, and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Bodyweight
When you have sleep apnea, the disruption to your sleep can knock your appetite-regulating hormones such as leptin and ghrelin out of balance. This in turn can increase cravings and cause you to overeat. It may also cause fatigue, which could result in reduced physical activity and impaired metabolism, making it harder to lose weight and easier to gain weight, ultimately worsening your sleep apnea.
Cardiac Health
Because of the frequent oxygen deprivation that occurs when you stop breathing, sleep apnea can put excessive strain on the cardiovascular system and can increase your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat (arrythmia) and heart failure.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options
CPAP treatment has been considered the go-to solution for sleep apnea for many years now, and when treating patients who suffer from severe symptoms, it can still be the most effective option. However, it isn’t right for many patients. The system relies on the use of a bulky face mask that forces air into the throat and lungs through the mouth and/or nose. There’s often significant noise involved, and the associated sensations can be a handful.
If you suffer from heavy snoring, mild to moderate sleep apnea, or are simply intolerant to CPAP use, please turn to our practice today for assistance. Dr. Rodgers can create a customized oral appliance that comfortably adjusts the position of your jaw, allowing the airway to stay clear and unhindered. There are no bulky machines or loud noises to worry about – the device is simple, removable, and easy to store and travel with.
Our team also offers combined therapy that utilizes both an oral appliance and a smaller CPAP device to help you achieve better rest. The machine is much quieter and less bulky, providing a much more comfortable and convenient solution for addressing sleep apnea. Speak with our team to learn more about your treatment options.
Will My Insurance Cover This?
Many medical insurance plans (including Medicare) provide coverage for sleep apnea treatment with oral appliance therapy. Our team will be happy to work with you through this process, processing and filing claims as needed. Visit our new patients page to learn more, or contact our Dunwoody, GA location to schedule your first consultation!
In the News
If you struggle with sleep apnea, you may have heard about the Phillips recall on CPAP machines recently. In fact, Dr. Rodgers was featured in an article from Sleepopolis about the recall and the potential threat to patients’ overall health. He shared his expertise in saying that patients who rely on CPAP therapy may have a higher risk of high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks as a result of the recall. However, oral appliance therapy provides a viable alternative for those who no longer have access to a functioning CPAP machine. Dr. Rodgers would be happy to discuss the article and this option with you in greater detail, so give us a call and schedule an appointment today!
Understanding the Cost of Sleep Apnea
Because everyone’s situation is unique, so is the cost of their sleep apnea treatment. We can go into more detail about the estimated costs when you see us in person. We will discuss specific numbers and your different payment options. Until then, here are some things to take into consideration.
Does Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Dental insurance does not cover sleep apnea treatment. Sleep apnea diagnoses and treatments are generally dealt with through medical insurance. To learn more about your coverage, it is best to reach out to your provider directly. One of our team members would also be happy to help you with this process. You could end up significantly reducing your out-of-pocket expenses!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment
There are multiple different factors that contribute to the overall cost of your treatment. Here are the two most influential ones.
- Type of Treatment: Different types of treatment mean different costs. At Sleep Better Georgia: Dental Sleep Medicine, we offer oral appliance therapy to reduce sleep apnea symptoms. The investment for oral appliances is relatively affordable in comparison to CPAP machines and other options.
- Insurance Coverage: Depending on your medical insurance plan, more or less of your treatment may be covered. With proper preauthorization, medical insurance plans will typically say how much they plan to cover before you receive your device.
Treat Your Sleep Apnea Now to Improve Your Health
Many patients wonder if it is worth it to go through the process of being diagnosed and treating sleep apnea. Whether or not you have insurance that will cover your care, you can be confident that treating your sleep apnea will benefit your health, therefore reducing long-term expenses.
Sleep apnea increases your risk of numerous health problems, including life-threatening ones, like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, depression, weight gain, and more. These issues will eventually result in more costly medical bills. By addressing your sleep apnea now, you can avoid some large bills later on. You can also experience a better quality of life!
Making Sleep Apnea Treatment More Affordable
In addition to filing claims for medical insurance, our practice can file paperwork on your behalf through Medicare. Oftentimes, coverage for sleep apnea therapy is available through Medicare if you qualify. For those without insurance, we are happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. To learn more about your financial options, don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly team members. We are eager to help you achieve the quality of sleep you deserve!
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is associated with a greater likelihood of snoring, but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and not everyone with sleep apnea snores. To properly diagnose this frustrating medical condition, you’ll need to receive a sleep test from a qualified sleep doctor, and the team at Sleep Better Georgia Dental Sleep Medicine will be happy to help you find an appropriate solution once we understand the nature of the problem. According to estimates, about twenty million Americans have sleep apnea.
Will My Sleep Apnea Go Away After I Lose Weight?
Being overweight is a significant risk factor for sleep apnea since it can place more pressure on the airway when the patient is trying to sleep. In some cases, losing weight can alleviate or potentially eliminate a patient’s sleep apnea symptoms, but this is not true for everyone. It may be necessary to undergo a sleep test even if you have lost weight in case you still require treatment for sleep apnea.
Are There At-Home Remedies for Sleep Apnea?
Professional treatments like oral appliances or combined therapy are the best ways for patients with sleep apnea to achieve excellent rest, but there are a few home remedies that may help you reduce your symptoms. A few potential ways to set yourself up for better rest include:
- Sleeping with your head propped up with pillows or cushions, as this will allow gravity to pull the heavy tissues in your neck away from your airway and help you breathe more easily.
- Exercising regularly.
- Making smart eating decisions.
- Using essential oils like lavender to encourage sleep.
- Abstaining from tobacco and alcohol use for a few hours before bed.
- Avoiding television, computer, or smartphone screens or other bright lights for several hours before going to sleep.
- Limiting your caffeine intake during the day.
What Are Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea?
Men and pregnant or post-menopausal women are more likely to experience sleep apnea. Being overweight, a smoker, or a heavy drinker can also contribute to your risk of developing this condition. People with untreated tongue ties are also more likely to suffer from sleep apnea.
Can I Receive Oral Appliance Therapy if I Grind My Teeth?
Sleep apnea is sometimes accompanied by nocturnal teeth grinding, and oral appliances can be designed to withstand the pressure bruxism causes. Such a device will help the patient keep their airway open during sleep and prevent the unnecessary dental wear and enamel erosion caused by grinding.
Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment Covered by Insurance?
Medical insurance plans usually cover diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea because the condition can lead to significant health consequences. The team at Sleep Better Georgia Dental Sleep Medicine will be happy to help you file your claim.