Snoring & Sleep Apnea Treatment in Bangor, ME
Do you wake up every morning feeling exhausted and fatigued, like you’ve barely slept? Does your partner complain about your snoring? Do you ever feel drowsy during the day and fall asleep at inappropriate times? You could have a serious condition known as sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that causes the sufferer to experience sudden, periodic interruptions in breathing while asleep. There are two types of sleep apnea: central and obstructed.
Obstructed sleep apnea is the more common type, in which the body tries to breathe but the airway is blocked. This is the type of sleep apnea that we can treat at Maine Family Dental Practice using customized, comfortable dental appliances.
How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Unfortunately, sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed. In fact, you may experience some of the common symptoms of sleep apnea every night and disregard them as being normal or unimportant. Snoring, daytime sleepiness, and a sore throat upon waking are a few seemingly harmless symptoms that sleep apnea sufferers might experience.
Some symptoms, like gasping, only occur during sleep. This makes sleep apnea even more difficult to notice, unless you have an attentive sleep partner. If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, our Bangor, ME dentist Dr. Travis Buxton recommends that you schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible.
Seeking treatment is important because this disorder can pose serious health risks including increased risk of high blood pressure, heart problems, and liver problems.
In many circumstances, sleep apnea patients may be asked to visit a special sleep doctor for a diagnosis and then make an appointment with an entirely different medical expert for treatment. At our office, we can both diagnose and treat this serious illness. We’ve found that this makes addressing the condition of sleep apnea simpler and more convenient for our patients.
Inquire with Dr. Buxton about our take-home sleep apnea test at your personalized consultation.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Bangor, ME
One of the leading treatments for sleep apnea in Bangor, ME is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP requires the user to wear a mask while sleeping, which is hooked up to a machine by the bedside. The system pushes air through the air passages during the night to prevent pauses in breathing. Though effective, many people find this form of treatment uncomfortable, frustrating, and inconvenient.
Your Maine Family Dental Practice sleep apnea dentist can help by providing you with a dental appliance. Let him design a custom mouthpiece that will gently and comfortably work to keep your airway open while allowing you a good night’s rest. In some cases, he may also recommend changes in your behavior, such as refraining from smoking, or sleeping on your side. Some people may be more at risk of developing sleep apnea than others. Sleep apnea tends to affect men more than women, and people with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) may also be more susceptible; however, anyone can be affected – even children.
Contact Our Dentist Office in Bangor Today!
If you suffer from the symptoms of sleep apnea, don’t hesitate any longer! Contact Maine Family Dental today at (207) 947-1166 for better health and a better night’s sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everyone snores occasionally, but loud or excessive snoring may be a symptom of sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening disorder. At Maine Family Dental, we understand the serious risk involved, so we offer effective sleep apnea treatment in Bangor, Maine.
Snoring & Sleep Apnea 
You may also hear sleep apnea referred to as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Apnea is a pause in breathing that lasts ten seconds or longer. When we lay down to sleep, the tongue and soft tissues in the throat relax.
This movement is normal, but for some people, it blocks the airway and prevents them from breathing. The body can only go so long without oxygen before it forces you to wake you up to breathe, which often results in a loud snorting or gasping sound.
Apnea episodes can occur hundreds of times a night for those with OSA, and the result is a lack of restful sleep that causes daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and drowsy-driving automobile accidents.
Over time, sleep apnea can also lead to health risks such as:
- Hypertension
- Irregular heartbeat
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
Treatment for Sleep Apnea in Bangor, ME
At Maine Family Dental, we work with your primary care doctor to determine if an FDA-approved oral appliance worn during sleep is appropriate for you. The device moves your lower jaw forward, which prevents your airway from closing up so you can finally get a good night’s sleep.
If you or your partner snore excessively or wake up feeling fatigued every day, call our Bangor, ME dentist office to arrange a consultation with Dr. Travis Buxton.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Travis Buxton DDS
Dr. Travis Buxton, DDS, was raised in Utah where he graduated from high school in 1996 and later married his high school sweetheart. He continued his education at Weber State University in Utah.
After graduating, he moved his growing family to Canada, where he was one of very few candidates accepted to Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry. After graduating in 2010, Dr. Buxton and his family relocated to Bangor to begin his dental career by joining Maine Family Dental Practice.
Dr. Buxton and his family fell in love with the Northeast while ...
Featured Blog Posts - Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Treatment
An Unexpected Treatment Option for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
When was the last time you had a good night’s sleep? You don’t know why, but you wake up every morning feeling exhausted. Or, maybe your partner snores loudly and excessively, which keeps you up all night.
In both cases, the problem may be related to sleep apnea, a serious disorder that affects almost 20 million US adults. What many people don’t know is that sleep apnea treatment in Bangor, ME can be as straightforward as wearing a customized oral device while you sleep.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
A sleep apnea ...
