Sleep apnea is a common disorder that often goes untreated. If you feel that you suffer from sleep apnea, Dr. Jeffrey Neal can provide sleep apnea assessments in Henrico, Virginia. These thorough and simple assessments can help determine whether you require further treatment from a specialist. For more information, we invite you to contact Who Does Your Teeth today at 804-447-1435 and schedule your appointment with our dentist.
If you think that you may be suffering from sleep apnea, visiting your dentist for a sleep apnea assessment may be beneficial. Dentists may see patients more often than primary care physicians, and they are already screening for other health conditions during your regular dental visit. Performing a sleep apnea screening will not add much time to your routine visit, and our dentist can help determine whether you require specific treatment.
When our dentist conducts a sleep apnea assessment, he may choose to perform one or more of the following assessments:
- A patient questionnaire to determine whether you suffer from common side effects such as snoring and daytime drowsiness.
- A take-home, overnight pulse oximeter to measure your blood oxygen levels while sleeping.
- An evaluation of your oral cavity, checking for problems related to sleep apnea, such as acid erosion on the teeth, teeth grinding or clenching, evidence of breathing through your mouth, and occlusions.
Sleep apnea assessments are fairly simple and inexpensive, and they can be performed on both children and adults. Although dentists cannot provide a formal diagnosis of sleep apnea, they can check for common signs. If they find that you exhibit signs or side effects of sleep apnea, our dentist can refer you to a trusted sleep specialist for further testing and official diagnosis. Our dentist can also continue working with you after diagnosis to provide a variety of treatments. For more information about sleep apnea, please feel free to contact or visit our office today.