Waking up exhausted even after a full night’s sleep? Does your partner complain about your snoring? You might have sleep apnea—a serious condition that affects way more people than you’d think.
Left untreated, sleep apnea doesn’t just rob you of restful sleep; it increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other serious health problems.
At Dentistry on 43, we screen for sleep apnea and provide effective treatment options all in the heart of the Peace Country. A simple screening could change everything—better sleep means better health, better mood, and better quality of life.
Sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The most common type, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when throat muscles relax and block your airway.
When your airway becomes blocked, your brain briefly wakes you to restart breathing—often so briefly you don’t remember it happening. But these interruptions prevent you from reaching deep, restorative sleep stages, even if you’re “asleep” for 8+ hours.
These breathing pauses can happen dozens or even hundreds of times per night, putting enormous stress on your body and leaving you exhausted, foggy, and at serious health risk.
During Sleep:
During the Day:
Many people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have it—they just know they’re always tired. If these symptoms sound familiar, a screening is the first step toward feeling better.
Sleep apnea isn’t just about feeling tired—it’s a serious medical condition that affects your entire body.
Sleep apnea is strongly linked to:
Chronic sleep deprivation from apnea affects:
Excessive sleepiness increases risk of:
Sleep apnea often connects to TMJ disorders, teeth grinding, and jaw pain. Our comprehensive approach addresses these interconnected issues.
Treating sleep apnea improves not just your sleep, but your overall health and longevity.
Better sleep = better everything.
Getting screened for sleep apnea is easier than you might think—and it could literally save your life.
During your visit, we'll discuss your symptoms, sleep quality, and health history. We'll ask about snoring, daytime fatigue, and related concerns. This conversation takes just a few minutes.
We examine your mouth, throat, jaw, and airway for signs that may indicate sleep apnea risk, such as: Narrow or crowded airway Large tongue or tonsils Small or recessed jaw Signs of teeth grinding
You'll complete a simple questionnaire that assesses sleep quality and apnea symptoms. This helps us determine your risk level.
If we suspect sleep apnea, we can arrange a home sleep study—a simple test you do in your own bed using a small monitoring device. This measures breathing patterns, oxygen levels, and sleep disruptions overnight. No hospital stays, no complicated lab tests—just straightforward screening that identifies whether sleep apnea is affecting your health.
Once we have your results, we'll discuss what they mean and recommend appropriate treatment options.
For many patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance offers an effective, comfortable solution. These devices look similar to mouthguards and work by:
Custom-fitted oral appliances are:
Many patients who struggle with CPAP machines find oral appliances much easier to tolerate and use consistently.
For severe sleep apnea, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines remain the gold standard. While we don’t provide CPAP machines directly, we coordinate with sleep physicians when needed to ensure you receive comprehensive care.
We provide guidance on lifestyle changes that support treatment:
Our in-house Certified Orofacial Myologist can provide orofacial myology therapy to improve tongue posture, breathing patterns, and airway muscle tone—supporting better sleep and complementing other treatments.
You might wonder why you’d see a dentist for sleep apnea. Here’s why it makes perfect sense:
Dentists examine mouths, throats, jaws, and airways daily. We're trained to identify anatomical factors that contribute to sleep breathing disorders.
We're uniquely qualified to design, fit, and adjust oral appliances for sleep apnea treatment—something most physicians can't do.
Sleep apnea often relates to TMJ problems, teeth grinding, jaw alignment, and other oral health issues. We address these interconnected concerns together.
You're already seeing us for regular dental checkups—adding a sleep apnea screening is simple and doesn't require separate appointments with specialists across the Peace Country.
When additional medical intervention is needed, we work alongside sleep physicians and other healthcare providers to ensure you receive complete, coordinated treatment.
Sleep apnea doesn’t get better on its own—it typically worsens over time. The sooner you’re diagnosed and treated, the sooner you protect your health and reclaim restful sleep.
If you’re constantly tired, snoring loudly, or experiencing any symptoms of sleep apnea, don’t wait. A simple screening could identify a serious problem and start you on the path to better sleep and better health.
Tired of being tired? Ready to address snoring, daytime fatigue, or concerns about your sleep quality? We’re here to help.
Book your sleep apnea screening:
Call us at (780) 500-1001 or book online. Better sleep and better health are within reach.
Don’t let sleep apnea steal another night. Schedule your assessment today.
Common signs include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep (often noticed by a partner), waking up tired despite sleeping 7-8 hours, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and excessive daytime sleepiness. However, many people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have it because the breathing interruptions are so brief. If you or your partner suspect sleep apnea, schedule a screening. A simple evaluation and home sleep study can diagnose the condition definitively.
Not all snoring means sleep apnea, but loud, chronic snoring is often a warning sign. Regular snoring is just noise from air vibrating in your throat. Sleep apnea involves actual pauses in breathing where your airway becomes blocked, causing drops in blood oxygen and forcing your brain to wake you repeatedly. If snoring is accompanied by gasping, choking sounds, or daytime fatigue, it’s likely more than simple snoring and should be evaluated.
For mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliances can be equally effective as CPAP, and patients often tolerate them better. CPAP remains the gold standard for severe sleep apnea, but many people struggle with masks, noise, and discomfort, leading to poor compliance. An oral appliance that’s worn consistently is more effective than a CPAP that sits unused. We’ll assess your specific situation and recommend the best treatment for your severity level and lifestyle.
Sleep apnea and weight have a complex relationship—untreated sleep apnea makes weight loss harder because it disrupts hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism. Many patients find that once their sleep apnea is treated and they’re sleeping better, losing weight becomes easier. However, weight loss also improves sleep apnea symptoms, creating a positive cycle. Treating sleep apnea gives you the energy and metabolic function needed to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Sleep apnea is typically managed rather than cured, though significant weight loss can sometimes resolve it completely in people where weight is the primary cause. For most people, ongoing treatment (oral appliance, CPAP, or other interventions) controls symptoms and prevents health complications. The good news? Treatment is highly effective—patients often experience dramatic improvements in energy, mood, and overall health within weeks of starting treatment. Consistent use of your treatment maintains these benefits long-term.
