If you constantly feel drained, struggle to stay awake during the day, or have been told that you snore loudly or stop breathing in your sleep, you may be living with sleep apnea. Many people dismiss these symptoms as ordinary tiredness, but sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects both your daily quality of life and your long-term health. The good news is that a simple, non-invasive treatment may be all you need to feel like yourself again. At Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, CA, we help patients recognize the warning signs of sleep apnea and offer comfortable oral appliance therapy for those who qualify. To schedule an appointment, call (818) 541-1110, and we will be happy to discuss your symptoms and recommend how best to proceed.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that makes it difficult for your body to receive the oxygen it needs to function properly. During sleep, your breathing repeatedly stops and starts, sometimes dozens or even hundreds of times a night, which prevents you from reaching the deep, restorative stages of rest. Because these interruptions happen while you are asleep, most people have no idea they are occurring. Instead, they simply wake up feeling unrefreshed and spend their days feeling drained and sluggish, never realizing that a treatable medical condition is the cause.
How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Your Health?
Untreated sleep apnea does far more than leave you tired. The repeated drops in oxygen and the strain of constantly interrupted sleep place significant stress on the body over time. Health problems associated with untreated sleep apnea include:
- High blood pressure and increased risk of heart failure.
- Greater risk of stroke.
- Type 2 diabetes and difficulty managing blood sugar.
- Frequent morning headaches.
- Depression, mood swings, and irritability.
- Worsening of conditions such as ADHD.
- Reduced concentration, memory problems, and an overall lack of well-being.
Because these risks build quietly over months and years, addressing sleep apnea early is an important investment in your overall health, not just your nightly comfort.
How Sleep Apnea Affects Daily Life
Without enough oxygen and restful sleep, your body has a hard time functioning. Beyond the medical effects, this translates into real limitations in everyday life. You may not have the energy to stay awake past dinner, to enjoy your child's birthday party, to go for a bike ride, or even to feel alert behind the wheel. When you are exhausted, ordinary and mundane activities can put you to sleep, which makes driving dangerous and can compromise your performance at work. Over time, your quality of life can be greatly diminished, which is why having sleep apnea evaluated and treated is so important.
Common Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can be hard to spot because the most telling symptoms happen while you are unconscious. Often it is a spouse or family member who notices the problem first. Watch for these warning signs:
- Loud, chronic snoring.
- Gasping, choking, or snorting sounds during sleep.
- Pauses in breathing witnessed by a partner.
- Waking with a dry mouth, sore throat, or headache.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue.
- Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, or irritability.
- Restless, non-refreshing sleep and frequent nighttime awakenings.
If several of these sound familiar, it is worth discussing your symptoms with a professional. A proper diagnosis usually involves a sleep study, which may be done at home or in a sleep center, and we can help guide you toward the right evaluation.
Sleep Apnea Versus Other Sleep Disorders
Sleep apnea is a physical condition that makes it difficult to breathe clearly while you sleep, so your body does not get enough oxygen to function at an optimal level. It is distinct from other sleep disorders, which have different causes and treatments:
- Insomnia. This difficulty falling or staying asleep can be long-term or temporary and is often brought on by external factors such as stress.
- Narcolepsy. A disruptive lifelong disorder that can make you feel so exhausted that you suddenly fall asleep regardless of where you are or what you are doing.
- Restless leg syndrome. Often affecting pregnant women, this condition creates tingling, burning, or itching sensations that force the legs to move throughout the night; staying active during the day can help.
- Jet lag. A real but temporary disruption caused by crossing time zones, which usually resolves once you stop traveling.
- Snoring. Loud snoring can disturb your sleep and your partner's, and it is frequently a sign of underlying sleep apnea.
The Two Main Types of Sleep Apnea
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This is the most common form. When you have OSA, the muscles supporting your lower jaw and tongue relax too much during sleep, allowing the jaw to fall backward and the tongue to block the airway. This is why people with OSA often snore loudly or sound like they are choking, as the body struggles to move air past the obstruction. Excess fatty tissue at the back of the throat can also narrow the airway, which is one reason carrying extra weight is a risk factor for OSA.
- Central Sleep Apnea. In this less common form, the brain is responsible. It fails to send the proper signals to the muscles that control breathing, so the body does not breathe as it should. Central sleep apnea is not treated by a dentist; it requires evaluation and care from a medical specialist.
Who Is at Risk?
Anyone can develop sleep apnea, but certain factors raise the risk. These include being overweight, having a larger neck circumference, a naturally narrow airway or enlarged tonsils, being male, growing older, a family history of the condition, nasal congestion, and the use of alcohol or sedatives that relax the throat muscles. Recognizing your risk factors can help you and your provider decide whether an evaluation is warranted.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
At Infinite Dental Wellness, we recommend that patients explore non-invasive options first. For many of our Glendale patients with obstructive sleep apnea, that means a custom removable oral appliance. An oral appliance is convenient because it makes no noise and is discreet, so you can simply slip it into place at bedtime. Some patients with more severe apnea also use a CPAP machine, which delivers a steady stream of pressurized air to keep the airway open. While CPAP is highly effective, some people find it loud or uncomfortable to wear on its own. A third option for certain cases of OSA is surgery to remove excess tissue blocking the airway, which is reserved for situations where other approaches are not sufficient.
How Does an Oral Appliance Work?
Wearing an oral appliance is remarkably easy. It is custom-made for your mouth so it fits snugly and securely, and you simply slip it into place when you go to sleep. The appliance gently holds your lower jaw in a slightly forward position, which keeps the tongue from falling backward and prevents it from collapsing against the airway. By maintaining an open airway, the appliance allows you to breathe freely and sleep restfully through the night. Many people get all the relief they need from an oral appliance alone, while those with severe sleep apnea may use it together with a CPAP machine. In those combined cases, most patients report that their CPAP becomes far more comfortable than it was as a standalone treatment.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Your visit begins with a conversation about your symptoms, sleep habits, and overall health, followed by an examination of your airway, jaw, and oral structures. If your symptoms suggest sleep apnea, we will help coordinate a sleep study for an accurate diagnosis, since proper treatment depends on understanding the type and severity of your condition. If a custom oral appliance is appropriate, we take precise impressions of your teeth so the device fits comfortably and works effectively. We then guide you on wearing and caring for the appliance and schedule follow-up visits to fine-tune the fit and confirm that your symptoms are improving.
Cost, Insurance, and Local Glendale Care
The cost of oral appliance therapy varies depending on your specific needs, and many plans help cover treatment for diagnosed sleep apnea. We accept all PPO insurance plans, though we do not accept Medi-Cal or Denti-Cal. Our team will review your benefits, provide a clear estimate, and discuss options that fit your budget. As a Glendale practice, we make it convenient to get evaluated and treated close to home, and we are always happy to refer you to a trusted medical specialist when central sleep apnea or another condition calls for care beyond the dental office.
Why Choose Infinite Dental Wellness
Infinite Dental Wellness is led by Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan, a USC-trained husband-and-wife team dedicated to gentle, patient-centered care for all ages. With a 4.9-star rating across more than 300 reviews and a mercury-free, whole-health philosophy, we look beyond your teeth to your overall well-being, including the quality of your sleep. We take the time to listen, explain your options clearly, and craft comfortable solutions that help you wake up refreshed.
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Simple Habits That Can Support Better Sleep
While professional treatment is essential for diagnosed sleep apnea, certain everyday habits can support your therapy and improve the quality of your sleep. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the excess tissue around the throat that contributes to obstructive sleep apnea, and regular exercise often improves both sleep and energy levels. Avoiding alcohol and sedatives in the hours before bed is also helpful, because these substances relax the throat muscles and can make airway collapse more likely. Sleeping on your side rather than your back keeps the tongue and soft tissues from falling backward as easily, and keeping a consistent sleep schedule helps your body get the most restorative rest possible.
These lifestyle measures are not a substitute for an oral appliance or other prescribed treatment, but they work alongside it to give you the best possible results. It is also important to remember that snoring and fatigue should never simply be ignored, because untreated sleep apnea quietly raises your risk of serious health problems over time. If you have tried adjusting your habits and still wake up tired, gasp for air, or snore loudly, that is a clear signal to be evaluated. Our team in Glendale is glad to talk through your symptoms, coordinate the right testing, and help you find a comfortable, effective path to restful, healthy sleep.
You do not have to accept constant exhaustion as a normal part of life. If you snore loudly, wake up gasping, or feel perpetually tired, a discreet, comfortable oral appliance may help you breathe and sleep better. To learn more about sleep apnea or to discuss your oral health in general, call (818) 541-1110 and schedule an appointment with our Glendale dental office. We are happy to discuss your health challenges and make recommendations, even if that means referring you to a specialist for the care you need.