Sleep Apnea Treatment in Billings, MT
Millions of people around the world suffer from poor sleep and disruptive snoring, with no idea why. New mattresses and breathing strips don’t help. Neither do sleep diets or better exercise.
If this description applies to you, it’s possible that you are suffering from a sleep disorder called Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep apnea can dramatically affect your ability to properly function in your everyday life.
Visit our sleep apnea dentist in Billings, MT, Dr. Neal Johnson, to learn how snoring treatment and oral appliance therapy can improve the quality of your sleep and help you have more energy throughout the day!
Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, our Billings, MT dental team can help determine whether sleep apnea is the cause — and what sleep apnea treatment options may help.
- Excessive daytime sleepiness — Interrupted sleep cycles keep your body from reaching deep, restorative sleep, leaving you drowsy and unfocused during the day.
- Insomnia — Your body unconsciously fights to keep your airway open, which can make it hard to fall or stay asleep.
- Nightmares — Oxygen deprivation from blocked airways can trigger vivid, unsettling dreams.
- Sleep deprivation — Even a full night in bed won’t feel restful if sleep apnea keeps interrupting your sleep cycles.
- Severe snoring — Loud, persistent snoring happens when relaxed throat tissue partially blocks your airway — often the first sign that leads people to seek snoring treatment.
- Dry mouth — Waking up with a dry mouth is often a sign you’re breathing through your mouth at night to compensate for a blocked airway.
- Dry throat — A dry, scratchy throat in the morning is another common result of nighttime mouth breathing.
- Fatigue — Beyond daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea can cause a deeper exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest.
- Headache — Morning headaches are often linked to oxygen drops and disrupted sleep patterns overnight.
- Irritability — Poor sleep quality directly affects mood, patience, and your ability to manage stress.
- Mood swings — Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to unpredictable shifts in mood and emotional balance.
- Inexplicable weight gain — Sleep apnea has been linked to hormonal imbalances that affect hunger and metabolism.
Read on to learn more about how sleep apnea can affect you, and speak with Dr. Neal Johnson to find the right treatment for you.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the soft tissues in the back of your throat relax at night. In fact, they often relax a little too much. These collapsed tissues block the air passages, which keeps air from reaching the lungs.
Our brain won’t let us suffocate. It has to force our airways open and does this by waking us up for a brief moment. We usually don’t even remember this happening, but it’s enough to restart breathing again. Unfortunately, it is also enough to disturb sleep cycles. We wake up in the morning thinking that we’ve had a full night’s sleep and wondering why we’re so tired anyway.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Options in Billings, MT
There are many ways to treat sleep apnea. Some popular options are minor surgery or the use of a CPAP machine. Both are extremely effective, but many patients find a simpler, more comfortable solution: oral appliance therapy.
A sleep apnea oral appliance is a custom-fitted mouthguard, adjusted to keep your lower jaw from collapsing backward while you sleep. Also known as a mandibular advancement device, this treatment helps you stop snoring and breathe easier throughout the night by keeping your tongue forward and preventing soft tissue from collapsing into your airway. With one simple appliance, heavy snoring can be dramatically reduced and sleep interruptions dropped significantly.
Dr. Neal Johnson offers two trusted oral appliance options for patients in Billings, MT:
Herbst Oral Appliance — Featuring an adjustable connector on either side, the Herbst appliance can be precisely moved back and forth to give you a fit that specifically works for you.
D-SAD Appliance — A dorsal-style oral appliance that allows for more natural jaw movement while still effectively repositioning the lower jaw to keep your airway open.
During your consultation, Dr. Johnson will help determine which oral appliance is the right fit for your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between snoring and sleep apnea?
Snoring is a symptom that can occur on its own or as part of sleep apnea. The key difference is that sleep apnea involves repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night, not just noise. If your snoring is accompanied by daytime fatigue, morning headaches, or gasping/choking during sleep, it may be a sign of sleep apnea rather than simple snoring.
Is oral appliance therapy as effective as a CPAP machine?
For many patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy is an effective and often more comfortable alternative to CPAP. Because it’s easier to wear consistently, many patients find they actually use it more reliably than a CPAP machine. Dr. Johnson can help determine whether oral appliance therapy is right for your specific case.
Will I need a sleep study before starting treatment?
A sleep study is typically used to diagnose sleep apnea and determine its severity. Talk to our Billings, MT office about the diagnostic process and next steps for your specific situation.
How long does it take to get used to wearing an oral appliance?
Most patients adjust to their oral appliance within a few weeks. Some minor discomfort or excess saliva is common at first, but this typically improves as you get used to wearing it each night.
Does insurance cover oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea?
Coverage varies by plan. Our Billings, MT team can help you understand your options during your consultation.
Don’t Hesitate to Call
You deserve a proper night’s sleep and undisturbed rest. If you suffer from any of the apnea symptoms listed above, call us right away. We want to get you the treatment you need as soon as possible.
