Maybe your partner’s been poking you in the ribs at 2 AM. Maybe you’re the one lying awake, listening to someone else saw logs. Or maybe you’ve been told you stop breathing during the night, and that scared you. Snoring’s annoying, sure. But snoring can be a sign of something called sleep apnea. And sleep apnea isn’t just annoying. It’s dangerous.
We’re here to help. At Thompson Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Thompson’s trained to treat certain types of sleep apnea right here in our Greeley office. No sleep lab required for the treatment itself.
What’s the Difference?
Snoring happens when air can’t move freely through your throat while you sleep. The tissues vibrate. That’s the sound you hear. Annoying? Yes. Life-threatening? Usually not.
Sleep apnea is different. With apnea, your airway actually collapses or gets blocked. You stop breathing, sometimes for 10 seconds or more. Your brain panics, jerks you out of deep sleep just long enough to gasp for air, and then it happens again. And again. And again.
Some people stop breathing hundreds of times per night. They never get real rest. They just don’t remember waking up.
Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
How do you know if it’s just snoring or something worse? Here’s what we ask patients:
- Do you wake up with a dry throat or headache?
- Are you tired all day, even after what felt like a full night’s sleep?
- Has anyone told you that you stop breathing or gasp for air at night?
- Do you nod off easily while sitting still, watching TV, reading, stopped in traffic?
If you answered yes to any of those, don’t just shrug it off. Untreated sleep apnea raises your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It’s not just about being tired. It’s about your long-term health.
Wait, a Dentist?
Most people don’t think of us when they think of sleep problems. But the same muscles and structures in your mouth and throat that help you talk and swallow also keep your airway open at night.
Dr. Thompson is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. That training lets us offer something a CPAP machine can’t: an oral appliance that fits like a mouthguard.
How Oral Appliance Therapy Works
The appliance is small, custom-made just for you. You wear it while you sleep. It gently holds your jaw forward just enough to keep your airway open. That’s it. No mask. No machine. And no cords.
Most patients tell us the appliance took a few nights to get used to, and then they forgot they were wearing it. Compare that to a CPAP, which some people describe as trying to sleep with a jet engine on their face.
We also offer a laser treatment called Nightlase for some patients. It uses gentle laser energy to tighten the tissues in your throat, reducing snoring without any appliances at all. Not everyone’s a candidate, but for the right person, it’s a great option.
What’s Next?
If you think you might have sleep apnea, start with your doctor. They can order a sleep test to confirm the diagnosis. But once you know you need treatment, come see us.
We’ll take impressions of your teeth, custom-fit your appliance, and follow up to make sure it’s working. No more pokes in the ribs. No more waking up exhausted. Just real sleep.
Call our Greeley office at 970-205-9614. Let’s get you sleeping better.