Obstructive Sleep Apnea

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can’t get an adequate breath in. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. Sleep is meant to be peaceful and consistent, to repair your sleeping habits, contact Dr. Fredrick Shaw, DDS to discuss treatment options.

There are two types of sleep apnea. Obstructive (OSA) is the more common of the two forms of apnea and is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.  People who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may not be aware that their sleep is being interrupted. Also, you don’t have to snore to have this condition so it’s important to seek treatment immediately.

If you have questions or concerns about sleep apnea or sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about services we provide at the practice, visit FredrickShawDDS.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Fredrick Shaw in Austin, TX, call 512-451-7491.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person repeatedly stops and starts breathing during sleep. Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea, which is a physical obstruction of the airway that delays breathing during sleep. If you wake up feeling fatigued after a full night’s rest, consider scheduling a consultation with Dr. Fredrick Shaw, DDS to rule out sleep apnea.

In central sleep apnea, breathing is regularly disrupted during sleep because of the way the brain functions. The symptoms remain the same; therefore, if you experience morning headaches, restless sleep, or chronic fatigue, it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis and explore your treatment options.  When central sleep apnea occurs, you may awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep.

If you have questions or concerns about sleep apnea or sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about services we provide at the practice, visit FredrickShawDDS.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Fredrick Shaw in Austin, TX, call 512-451-7491.

Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can affect more than the quality of your sleep. It can also increase the risk of heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX treat sleep apnea so patients can get back to a healthy night of sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the throat collapse during sleep. This narrows or completely closes the airway, so the patient has difficulty breathing. A patient may stop breathing a few times or hundreds of times per night.

Here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, we treat our patients with obstructive sleep apnea through surgery. There are several options available, depending on the condition of the patient and history with past treatments. The first option is called an uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. In this procedure, the doctor removes some of the soft tissue that is blocking the airway. Another option is maxillomandibular advancement which moves the upper and lower parts of the jaw forward to create more room in the airway. When most other treatments and surgeries for obstructive sleep apnea do not work, a tracheostomy may be needed. This procedure creates an opening in the throat where a tube is placed for breathing during the night. During the day, the tube is removed and the opening is covered.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, act now to receive treatment. To schedule an appointment with Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call our office at (512) 451-7491. For more information about our practice and how we treat sleep apnea, visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com. 

Two Types of Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Here at Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group, Dr. Fredrick Shaw utilizes oral surgery to help assist with sleep apnea.

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can’t get an adequate breath in. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. When central sleep apnea occurs, you may awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep. Like with obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and daytime sleepiness can occur.

If you have sleep apnea, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about Shoal Creek Prosthodontic Group in Austin, TX, call us at 512-451-7491 or visit our website, www.fredrickshawdds.com.