How We Test For Sleep Apnea

celina sleep apnea testingIn our last blog, we discussed how obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could impact your oral health and lead to problems with your immune system or cardiovascular system. But if you’re feeling tired and exhausted each day, how will we test for OSA? In today’s blog, your Celina, TX, dentist talks about how we test in-office and at-home!

In-Office Testing

First, we will talk to you about possible risk factors and see how many apply to your situation. Next, we will complete a thorough airway screening to determine your risks and see if there is any obvious obstruction. The results will be sent to experts at sleeptest.com. When the results are processed, we will see if you need further testing and if so, the then at-home device will be delivered right to your home. There will be detailed and easy to follow instructions for administering the test at home, and how to send the results of the test to our teams for assessment and to begin the treatment process.

At-Home OSA Diagnosis

The diagnostic device is essentially a small machine that sits at your bedside. This allows you to rest in your own bed, providing more accurate results than if you were trying to rest in an uncomfortable lab setting. The device measures airway obstruction, breathing cessation, and blood oxygen levels. The results let us know how severe your disorder is, and helps us choose the best treatment option to bring relief and let you sleep with ease again.

Moving Forward With Treatment

For most cases, we will provide relief with an oral appliance, or a device that looks and fits like a mouthguard. Worn at night, this can reposition the jaw to keep airways open and prevent the cessation of breathing that happens with OSA. You then breathe without interruption and avoid symptoms. This lets you rest easy again, so you feel more alert during the day. You can also help with a few changes to your daily routine, such as maintaining a good sleep schedule, avoiding large meals, caffeine or excessive alcohol in the two hours before bed, and staying screen free right before going to sleep. These actions help you go to sleep easier and stay that way.

If you have any questions about how we diagnose OSA and diagnose your disorder, or if you think you may benefit from a diagnosis with an at-home test, then contact our team today to learn more. A good night’s sleep is possible again!

Talk To Your Celina, TX Dentist About OSA Diagnosis

Our team wants to help people find the treatment they need to rest with ease. If you would like to find out how we diagnose this issue, then contact your Celina, TX, dentist, Dr. Newton, by calling (214) 851-0130.