Signs of Sleep Apnea

Doctor assesses a patient with a CPAP sleep apnea machine attached to his face

Sleep apnea is characterized as repeated lapses or restrictions of your breathing in your sleep. These interruptions in breathing hinder the quality of your sleep, ultimately harming your health and quality of life. Dallas Oral Surgery Associates is trained to help patients improve their quality of life and their health by addressing sleep apnea with a range of proven treatments.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, it is likely that you are not aware you have it. Sleep apnea is a common disorder for millions of Americans, but 80% of Americans affected are not diagnosed. If you tend to snore loudly or experience fatigue throughout the day despite a full night’s sleep, these are signs that you might have sleep apnea. Other symptoms include a lack of energy, dampened focus, weak reflexes, irritability, and depression.

Our specialists offer several surgical treatments to treat sleep apnea when dental appliances are not effective. The treatment option we suggest will depend on the type of sleep apnea you have.

Types Of Sleep Apnea

All three types of sleep apnea interrupt breathing patterns during sleep, but these types are distinguished by their triggers.

•	Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This disorder is characterized by the throat muscles relaxing and restricting the airway. It is the most common form of sleep apnea.
•	Central sleep apnea (CSA): This disorder is characterized by the brain failing to send the autonomic signals to the muscles that control your breathing.
•	Complex sleep apnea: Also known as treatment-emergent sleep apnea, this disorder appears when OSA becomes CSA. This usually occurs as a result of using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP).

What Are The Risk Factors?

There are several factors that can increase your risk of having or developing sleep apnea:

•	Excess weight: Overweight or obese patients are at a higher risk of sleep apnea. When sleeping on your back, the presence of fat deposits around the neck and upper airway can restrict breathing.
•	Age: OSA and CSA are most common in older patients, especially those over the age of 40.
•	Neck size: Patients with wider necks have a higher risk of sleep apnea.

Signs Of Sleep Apnea

Although diagnosing sleep apnea can be excessively difficult, here are some signs to look out for:

•	Loud snoring: Sleep apnea typically induces heavy snoring.
•	Gasping during sleep: When breathing is restricted during sleep, the brain will wake the body just enough for the patient to gasp for air. When this happens, patients may not realize their REM sleep has been disturbed.
•	Daytime sleepiness: Due to the frequent disturbances in REM sleep and the restricted intake of oxygen throughout the night, sleep apnea severely reduces your quality of sleep.

Are you unsure of your symptoms or unfamiliar with sleep apnea? Our surgeons are available to break down the dangers of sleep apnea and provide you with specialized treatment options. To schedule a consultation appointment or learn more about how we treat sleep apnea, call 214-363-9946 to schedule an appointment.

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8315 Walnut Hill Ln Suite 225, Dallas, TX 75231

214-363-9946

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Dallas Oral Surgery Associates, 8315 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 225, Dallas, TX 75231 - 214-363-9946 - dallasoralsurgeryassociates.com - 10/26/2025 - Page Terms:dental implants North Dallas -