A person who has sleep apnea will often stop breathing for 10 seconds or more multiple times during a single night. Each pause forces the body to wake up and interrupt the sleep cycle, preventing you from receiving the restorative benefits of the deeper sleep stages. Additionally, the interruptions in breathing can have serious consequences for the cardiovascular system. Sleep apnea can lead to diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, a higher risk for accidents while driving, and an overall lower quality of life.
There are several potential contributing factors for sleep apnea. Some are related to your anatomy. For example, you’re more likely to suffer from sleep apnea if you have a large tongue or a thicker neck. Your lifestyle matters as well. If you’re overweight, there may be more fat in your neck; the additional pressure can increase the chances of the airway becoming obstructed during the night. You might also be more likely to experience sleep apnea or loud snoring if you smoke or drink alcoholic beverages shortly before bed.
Since many of the symptoms of sleep apnea could point to other issues, a sleep test is required to confirm the diagnosis. Some sleep tests are performed in a sleep lab, but take-home tests are available as well. In both cases, a special device is used to monitor breathing, heartbeat, and other relevant factors. A sleep expert can review the results of your test to check for markers that indicate the presence of sleep apnea.
You may have heard of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP for short; this type of treatment involves using an air pump to force oxygen into the throat to maintain a clear airway, thus reducing sleep apnea symptoms. But for many people, CPAP therapy is too noisy and causes too much discomfort. Luckily, many people have the option of wearing an oral appliance instead. Each appliance is personalized to keep your sleep disorder under control while also making it easier to stay comfortable when you’re trying to sleep.
Treating Snoring Issues
Not everybody who snores has sleep apnea, but the two are very closely linked, and people who snore a lot are more likely to develop sleep apnea later on. Fortunately, oral appliance therapy can be an effective solution for both issues! Not only will you get better rest during the night, but you’ll no longer have to worry about your snoring keeping your loved ones up. Give our team at GoTo Sleep Center - Scottsdale a call to start learning more about the various benefits of oral appliance therapy.
Combined Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Sometimes it might be necessary to use both an oral appliance and a CPAP machine to properly manage your sleep apnea. Since the oral appliance opens up the airway, the CPAP machine can be used at a lower setting, which goes a long way toward improving your comfort. It also means that the machine will emit less noise, making it easier to fall asleep. Generally, we suggest combined therapy for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea symptoms, especially if oral appliance therapy or CPAP therapy alone doesn’t deliver the results they want.
The cost of sleep apnea treatment can vary a lot because everyone’s symptoms and severity are different. During your consultation with us, we will go over the estimated costs of your treatment in person. We will discuss specific numbers and the various financial options that are available to you. Until then, here are some things for you to take into consideration.
Does Dental Insurance Cover the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Dental insurance does not cover the cost of sleep apnea treatment. Instead, your medical insurance plan usually deals with sleep apnea diagnoses and treatments. To learn more about your coverage, it is a good idea to contact your provider directly. One of our friendly team members would also be happy to assist you with this. This way, you could significantly lower your out-of-pocket costs.
Factors That Contribute to the Cost of Sleep Apnea Treatment
There are several different factors that can contribute to the cost of your sleep apnea treatment. Here are some of the things that play a larger role:
Type of Treatment: There are multiple methods available to address sleep apnea, and their treatments are at different price ranges. At our practice, we use oral appliance therapy to reduce sleep apnea symptoms. This is usually more affordable than CPAP therapy and other methods.
Insurance Coverage: Depending on your coverage, more or less of your treatment will be covered. With proper preauthorization, medical insurance plans should say how much they plan to pay before you receive your device.
Treat Your Sleep Apnea Now to Improve Your Health
A lot of people put off the sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment process due to fear of cost. Whether or not you have health insurance that covers sleep apnea treatment, you can be confident that undergoing treatment will be beneficial for your well-being. People with untreated sleep apnea are at a higher risk of numerous health issues, including some that are serious and life-threatening, like stroke, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, depression, weight gain, and more. These problems will eventually result in high medical bills and a lower quality of life.
Making Sleep Apnea Treatment More Affordable
If you don’t have health insurance, this doesn’t mean that you will be left completely on your own. We are happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. We also accept Medicare. We’re very familiar with the claim filing process, so we’ll do everything we can to make it as stress-free as possible. If you have any questions regarding your financial options, don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly team members.
3 Convenient Locations Across the Greater Phoenix Area
From
sleep testing
to
oral appliance therapy
, you’ll find everything you need to get a better night’s rest at our conveniently located offices in Scottsdale, Glendale, and Mesa.
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