Dr. Spurlock wants to know: Do you suffer from sleep disorders?

Do you consistently feel like you're not getting enough sleep? If the answer is yes, you may have sleep apnea, also known as obstructive sleep apnea, which is a disorder that causes interruptions of normal breathing during sleep and one that affects roughly 80 million Americans.

Sleep apnea can occur at any age, and "has been linked to an increased risk of fragmented sleep and restlessness, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke." Even mild sleep apnea, according to Dr. Andrew Weil, "can cause associated sleep disturbances, leading to depression, irritability, sexual problems and impaired learning and memory."

There are several different approaches to sleep apnea treatment, including:

• Surgery to the jaws or airway tissue to open the airway. This is typically only used in the most severe cases.

• Continuous airway pressure therapy which involves a mask and machine (CPAP machine) to keep your throat muscles and tissue open while sleeping

• Oral appliance therapy, a less intrusive method involving a customized oral device that positions your jaw in a favorable position to keep your airway open while you sleep.

If you suspect that you may suffer from a sleep disorder or sleep apnea, our staff at Advanced Dental Concepts encourage you to give us a call at (850) 304-0027.