Sleep Apnea Therapy – Huntsville, OH

What is Sleep Apnea?

Affecting millions of people throughout the United States, sleep apnea is a common disorder that prevents individuals from achieving adequate rest due to ceased breathing throughout the night. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). With CSA, the brain struggles to signal the body that it needs to breathe, while OSA occurs when an obstruction develops in the upper airway, preventing proper airflow.

This process can happen once or 100 times each night, resulting in blood pressure rising and lowering over and over again. As the individual suddenly awakens, they may likely gasp for air. As a result of the frequent interruptions that occur, OSA can lead to problematic symptoms, such as:

• Moodiness
• Chronic fatigue
• Loud snoring
• Inability to focus or remember things
• Low libido

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Living with sleep apnea doesn’t just impact a person’s day-to-day functionality, however. It can also have a devastating impact on an individual’s overall health. Many patients who suffer from OSA, which is the most common form, may develop cardiovascular issues (i.e., heart attack, stroke), diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, negative cognitive decline (i.e., dementia, Alzheimer’s), anxiety, and depression. Without proper treatment, sleep apnea can be fatal.

However, this common condition doesn’t have to lead to any of these problems if you seek the necessary care. Our team at Northwest Family Dental is here to help. By seeing a dentist in Huntsville, you can start breathing better and finally get the sleep you deserve.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Once you decide to call our office to schedule a consultation, you will meet with a member of our team who will go over your medical history as well as ask about the difficulties you’re experiencing as it pertains to sleep apnea.

To ensure that you do, indeed, have this condition, we will partner with a local ENT who will set you up to undergo a sleep study. This will allow medical professionals to evaluate your sleep and breathing patterns to determine if OSA is the issue. If so, you will return to our office where we will evaluate the severity of your sleep apnea and recommend the appropriate treatment option.

Many patients find that CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is helpful and produces great results. The pressurized air that is pushed into the airway helps to keep it open throughout the night, allowing you to get ample sleep. However, these devices can also be cumbersome for many, causing them to forgo treatment altogether.

For individuals who are CPAP intolerant or who only suffer from mild to moderate OSA, oral appliance therapy (OAT) can be an ideal solution. Our dentists will determine which EMA appliance will work best, as this help to gently move the jaw forward to ensure the airway remains open while asleep.

Only in the most severe cases will we recommend surgery, which is referred to as distraction osteogenesis maxillary expansion. This unique solution can help to address the root cause of OSA so that you can begin to breathe freely and sleep throughout the night.

Understanding the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment

Understanding the cost of your sleep apnea treatment can be tricky, especially when it comes to insurance. Our team is determined to help make the process as stress-free as possible, so don’t hesitate to voice any questions or concerns you might have! In the meantime, you can read through the information we’ve put together below. It’ll give you an overview of what you can expect, and we’ll be able to give you a more precise cost estimate during your consultation.

Does Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Unfortunately, dental insurance plans don’t typically offer coverage for sleep apnea treatments, even if you would be receiving an oral appliance from a qualified dentist. Medical insurance, however, is more likely to help you offset your costs. We encourage patients to talk to their medical insurance representative or primary care provider about their benefits and potential savings.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment 

A couple of different factors can affect the cost of your sleep apnea treatment in Huntsville. For example:

• Before receiving treatment, you’ll need an official sleep apnea diagnosis. This usually involves a sleep study and is considered a separate cost.
• Your medical insurance coverage may reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
• CPAP and oral appliance therapy have different associated costs. Generally, oral appliance therapy like what Dr. Grill offers is less pricey.

Treat Your Sleep Apnea Now to Improve Your Health

Oftentimes, treating a health condition like sleep apnea sooner than later saves patients money in the long run. It’s easy to think of poor sleep quality as a “common” or “minor” problem, but studies show that it significantly increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, vehicular accidents, anxiety, depression, and more. Oral appliance therapy is often less expensive than complicated problems like these.

Making Sleep Apnea Treatment More Affordable

Since patients can’t always rely on their insurance coverage, we readily offer other options for making your sleep apnea treatment more affordable. You’re always welcome to ask one of our friendly team members for more information. In the meantime, though, here’s a brief summary of what we can do for you:

• Flexible financing. Reputable third-party financiers like CareCredit and Cherry allow qualifying patients to sign up for a monthly payment plan at little-to-no interest. We gladly accept these plans and can help you apply if you’re interested.
• In-house membership plan. This is a great alternative for those who don’t have insurance. As soon as you enroll in our membership plan, you’ll have access to discounts on our various services. Best of all, there’s no waiting period, annual maximum, or yearly deductible.