Do your snores shake your walls? Do you find yourself seeking refuge in a different room from a spouse who snores that loud? Are you waking every morning with a bad headache, sore throat, and dry mouth? There’s a chance you might suffer from sleep apnea. Dr. Clint Bruyere believes that a dentist’s duty extends beyond just fillings and extractions. Because of this, Dr. Bruyere is proud to offer patients sleep apnea treatment in Longview, TX. We can assist you in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up evaluation for your sleep apnea treatment.

What sleep apnea is:

This sleep disorder causes a person to stop breathing in short intervals while sleeping. Untreated apnea sufferers can stop hundreds of times each night. This deprives the brain and the rest of the body of oxygen. The breathing difficulties occur because the tongue falls back in the throat, or the soft tissue at the back of the throat collapses while the patient is sleeping. This blocks the airway, stopping the person’s ability to breathe.

Untreated sleep apnea effects:

• Higher risk for strokes.
• High blood pressure.
• Heart failure.
• Diabetes.
• Depression.
• Headaches.
• Worsened symptoms of ADHD.
• Poor performance at work or school.
• Increased chance for accidents.

Common symptoms of sleep apnea:

• Sleepiness or lack of energy during daily activities.
• Loud snoring.
• Waking up with a sore or dry throat.
• Waking up occasionally experiencing a choking or gasping sensation.
• Morning headaches.
• Insomnia.
• Forgetfulness.
• Mood changes, depression symptoms.

Oral appliance therapy and how it works to stop your sleep apnea:

Dr. Bruyere provides patients suffering from sleep apnea an alternative to the traditional CPAP machine treatment. Oral appliances work by reducing the chance of your tongue falling backwards while sleeping, or position the jaw to prevent soft tissue collapse, preventing airway blockage. This treatment works effectively for mild to moderate sleep apnea.

Benefits of oral appliance therapy:

• Easy to use: CPAP therapy is often a complicated process. Most patients report that mouth appliances are easier to wear.
• Discreet: Unlike a CPAP machine, it’s easy to transport the small oral appliance on trips and to put away in the morning after waking. They are easy to travel with, being small enough to fit in your purse or carry-on bag.
• Comfortable: Patients report that mouth appliances are comfortable and easy to get used to.
• Non-invasive: No surgery is needed for this form of sleep apnea therapy. Fitting your appliance is a quick process.

Main types of oral appliance therapy:

• Tongue retaining device (TRD): This splint-like device holds the tongue in place to help keep your airway open.
• Mandibular (jawbone) advancement device (MAD): This oral appliance gently keeps your lower jaw slightly forward and down. This keeps your airway open.

The process Dr. Bruyere uses to help halt your sleep apnea:

After sleep apnea diagnosis, Dr. Bruyere meets with you for a detailed and individualized consultation to determine the best treatment path for you. After this, if it is determined that an oral appliance will effectively treat your sleep apnea, we will fit you for your customized appliance. After receiving it, we will ensure that it fits properly. After that, we will have follow-up appointments with you to ensure that your sleep apnea symptoms have cleared up and fix any issues that may arise from the usage of your mouth appliance.

Why we are the right place for you!

• Our patient focus: We see each patient as an individual. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. We take the time to get to know you, your goals, your symptoms, your budget,and your needs, to determine the best treatment option for you.
• Bruyere’s lifelong commitment to dentistry: Unlike many people, Dr. Bruyere knew from an early age exactly what he wanted to do, care for people through dental services. He has completed over 2000 hours of continuing education. He’s also been voted as a Texas Super Dentist seven times in the last decade!

Stop the snores and wake up refreshed every morning! Call us now to find out more about our sleep apnea treatment. It’s a new day! (903) 708-6116.

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