What Is Sleep Apnea? Northern Arizona

What is Disrupting Your Nightly Slumber?

If you consistently go to bed early enough to get a full 7 to 9 hours of sleep but still wake up feeling exhausted, it could be due to a common sleep disorder known as sleep apnea. Not only can this condition often cause loud snoring, but it can also prevent you from getting quality sleep, putting your overall health at serious risk in the long run. You can learn more about sleep apnea on this page! If you suspect that you may be dealing with this disorder, we encourage you to call Sleep Better Southwest today to schedule a FREE sleep apnea consultation with Dr. Held at any of our three sleep dental offices in Northern Arizona.

Why Choose Sleep Better Southwest for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Led by Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine

Personalized Sleep Oral Appliances

Medical Insurance and Medicare Accepted

Man with sleep apnea sleeping on his back with his mouth open

The Basics of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes someone to stop breathing at several points throughout the night. Studies have shown that sufferers can experience pauses hundreds of times each night, each episode lasting up to 30 seconds or even longer. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, complex, and central.

Learn More About Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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What Causes Sleep Apnea?

You have sleep apnea if your breathing is repeatedly stopping and restarting while you’re asleep. Oftentimes, these interruptions are due to soft tissues in your mouth or throat collapsing together. Whenever breathing is interrupted, your brain briefly wakes you up for air, thus interrupting the sleep cycle. There are various risk factors for sleep apnea, including obesity, drinking alcohol before bed, genetics, age, and several medical conditions.

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Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms

You might have sleep apnea if any of these symptoms sound familiar:

You have been told that you often snore loudly.
People have noticed that your breathing can stop while you’re asleep.
You occasionally wake up gasping or choking.
You feel tired despite getting about 8 hours of sleep.
You frequently have trouble focusing or remembering.
You are experiencing unexplained mood changes (depression is a common example).
You have high blood pressure.
You often wake up with a headache.

Senior man using an at home blood pressure monitor

The Dangers of Sleep Apnea

Sleep is critical to every aspect of your body’s health, including mental health, cardiovascular health, and metabolic health. Disrupting your body’s normal sleep routine disrupts all its systems, which is why sleep apnea is associated with dozens of serious health problems. Among these are:

Heart disease
Stroke
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity, including unexplained weight gain and inability to lose weight
Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
Memory problems
Cancer
Depression and other mood disorders
Sexual dysfunction

These health conditions can be dangerous and even deadly. That’s why people with untreated sleep apnea have a 46% higher risk of premature death. In addition to the risk of early death, people with untreated sleep apnea spend thousands of dollars more each year on medical bills to treat associated conditions.

Man sleeping on his side while hooked up to various sleep study monitors

How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?

A sleep study (also called a polysomnogram) is the only definitive way to tell whether you suffer from sleep apnea and how severe it might be. Sleep studies can be conducted in a sleep laboratory or at home using an ambulatory sleep study device such as the Sleep Image Ring or Resmed ApneaLink Air. In either case, the tests are completely painless, and they may take two nights to complete.

At Sleep Better Southwest, we help set up the best type of sleep testing for your situation. Once tested, the results are analyzed by a sleep physician who will then give you a definitive diagnosis. From there, our team can help you find the treatment that is right for you.

Learn More About Sleep Testing

Man sleeping on his back with a C P A P mask on his face

How is Sleep Apnea Treated?

There are multiple ways to treat sleep apnea. Some patients are recommended a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which (while effective) can be difficult and cumbersome to use nightly. In many cases, an oral appliance can be used in its place, which is customized for the patient’s unique mouth. The appliance helps keep the airway clear, reducing the chances of interrupted breathing!

Learn More About Oral Appliances

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Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep apnea may happen while you’re sleeping, but the benefits of treatment last all day. With quality rest, you’ll find that you have more energy. You will be less likely to fall asleep during the day at work, in the car, or in front of the TV. You will find that you are more likely to want to exercise and stay active. Your lung capacity may improve. You may be less tempted by junk food, and it might be easier to lose weight. You’ll also find you’re less irritable and able to enjoy life more!

Best of all, when it’s time to go to sleep, you’ll love going to bed with your partner. Both of you will be able to sleep through the night – and no one will be complaining about snoring.

Man stretching after restful night of sleep

Understanding the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment

The cost of sleep apnea treatment depends on a few factors, including the nature of your treatment and the scope of your insurance coverage. When you visit us for a consultation, we can talk about the financial details of your case. You can rely on us to make the payment process as easy as possible. It is also important for you to remember that treating your sleep apnea will benefit your overall health and can rightly be seen as a smart investment.

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Does Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment?

Since Dr. Held is a dentist, it might seem natural to think that dental insurance covers his sleep apnea services. However, that is not the case. Dental insurance focuses on services that directly benefit the health of the teeth and gums. Sleep apnea is considered a general medical problem. Therefore, your health * * insurance is much more likely to cover it.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment

There are two main factors that can influence the cost of your treatment:

The type of treatment you receive. Dr. Held and our team offer multiple types of oral appliances, which come at different price points. If more than one device might work for you, our team can help you compare the pros, cons, and cost of each available option.
Your medical insurance coverage. Health insurance usually covers at least a portion of the cost of sleep apnea testing and treatment. Our team can help you navigate the process of using your benefits. We accept many different plans, and we welcome Medicare.

Treat Your Sleep Apnea Now to Save Money

In some cases, sleep apnea treatment might seem a bit on the pricey side. However, it should be viewed as an investment rather than an expense. It may help you financially in a couple of ways:

Reduced medical expenses. Untreated sleep apnea may increase your risk of several major health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. Getting high-quality sleep may delay or prevent the onset of such conditions, thereby helping you save on medical care.
A healthier mind. Good-quality sleep can increase your performance on the job and give you the energy to accomplish your career goals. It can also help you maintain a positive mindset. All of these benefits have the potential to support your financial health.

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Making Sleep Apnea Treatment More Affordable

In addition to welcoming insurance, our Northern Arizona sleep apnea team also accepts third-party financing through CareCredit. The application process is fast, and most patients are deemed eligible for a low-interest payment plan that fits their budget. This is a great option for patients without insurance, as well as for those whose insurance coverage is limited.

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