As one of the few sleep apnea specialists in Louisville, Dr. Michael Barnett is experienced in treating this condition. In order to properly treat the condition, however, he must be able to see how severe the condition is and therefore what treatment options are available for the patient. His practice, Stony Brook Dental Care, can help the people of Jeffersontown, Hurstbourne, Douglas Hills, and the surrounding Louisville neighborhoods by using cone beam imaging as part of the sleep apnea treatment process.
Sleep Apnea and Treatments
Sleep apnea is a common disorder which the individual stops breathing when they sleep. There are different types of sleep apnea disorders, but the most common of these is obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea prevents air from flowing through your airway do to an extreme relaxation, or “collapse,” of the soft tissue near and in the throat. Individuals experiencing obstructive sleep apnea often feel fatigues, are irritable, have a sore throat upon waking, or have a hard time being able to concentrate. However, a patient may not be able to remember having apnea episodes due to being only half-conscious when awoken to breathe.
Treatment options include mouth guard-like oral appliances, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that makes it easier to breathe, and lifestyle changes that can help reduce some sleep apnea factors. Our Jeffersontown dental office can help you by providing both forms of treatment, as dependent upon your particular needs. But, in order to ensure you are receiving the best solution for sleep apnea, your treatment can be assisted through the use of cone beam imaging.
What Is Cone Beam Imaging?
Dental cone beam imaging is a type of x-ray equipment used to create detailed three dimensional images of your teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways and bone in a single scan. The x-ray is done by your doctor and it moves around you to produce a large number of high quality images that can aid in the evaluation of the jaw, dentition, and nasal cavity and sinuses. In addition to better diagnosing your oral health, cone beam imaging can also illuminate any signs that you may have obstructive sleep apnea.
This state-of-the-art equipment is essential in the assistance of the treatment of your sleep apnea for it looks at your sinuses and nasal cavity and evaluates them. Sleep apnea affects these surrounding tissues that controls your breathing; oral appliances, in turn, reposition the jaw and widen the airway to prevent blockage by soft tissue collapse. By evaluating these areas and how they function, cone beam imaging aids in the process of your doctor determining the severity of your sleep disorder and to formulate the best oral appliance treatment plan possible.
At Stony Brook Dental Care, we specialize in the treatment of sleep apnea and provide a variety of options to return you to a healthy sleeping routine. For more information about how we can treat sleep apnea, or to schedule an appointment, contact our Jeffersontown practice today!