Sleep/sedation dentistry is used to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for receiving dental treatment. Selecting dental sedation will likely increase the price of the dental work, so you will need to weigh the benefits and the costs. Also, you will want to check your insurance coverage to see if dental sedation is covered. Don't be afraid to talk to your sleep dentist to work out the details regarding the procedures you might need and how to pay for them.

Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Sleep Dentists also treat snoring and sleep apnea. According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, people with sleep apnea may snore loudly and stop breathing for short periods of time. The breathing pauses from sleep cause your body to briefly wake while you remain unaware. This can happen hundreds of times per night, and you may wake up feeling unrefreshed. In addition to snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea can cause memory loss, morning headaches, irritability, depression, decreased sex drive and impaired concentration. When left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to hypertension, stroke, heart attack and sudden death while asleep.

The vast majority of sleep related breathing cases go undiagnosed and untreated. An Institute of Medicine report found that an estimated 50-70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. Sleep dentists together with sleep physicians are challenged to respond to the health risks and economic impact of untreated sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness.