Mountain Vista Dental

Steven W Carlson DDS

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Mountain Vista Dental > Services > Sleep Apnea

We offer dependable solutions for sleep apnea so you can get the rest you need.

Sleep Apnea

Are you getting the restful sleep you need? If your partner accuses you of loud snoring at night or you find yourself exhausted in the afternoon, you may not be getting the sleep you need and deserve. You may actually be suffering from a sleep disorder known as sleep apnea.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA occurs when your airway becomes blocked or obstructed during sleep. This cuts off your oxygen, causing you to wake multiple times throughout the night. In severe cases of sleep apnea, you might wake hundreds of times without realizing it.

Sleep apnea robs you of the restful sleep you need to be healthy and productive throughout the day. The standard of care for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which some patients find difficult to tolerate due to the requirement of wearing a mask during sleep.

What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

It can be hard to know if you suffer from sleep apnea, but here are some of the telltale signs to look out for.

Loud Snoring

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea; however, snoring that keeps your partner awake at night might indicate a sleep disorder.

Paused Breathing

Do you wake up coughing? Does your partner notice paused breathing during the night? This may be due to sleep apnea.

Chronic Fatigue

When you feel unrested after waking or experience chronic fatigue that prevents you from engaging in normal daily activities.

Frequent Headaches

Chronic headaches or migraines, especially in the morning, could be related to sleep apnea.

Gasping or Choking

If you wake up gasping, coughing, or choking during the night, it could be due to a lack of oxygen.

Brain Fog

Difficulties focusing or concentrating, irritability, and mood swings are all symptoms of sleep apnea.

Our Team

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Dr. Steven Carlson

Dr. Steven Carlson has been providing exceptional dental care at Mountain Vista Dental since 2001. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, Dr. Carlson leads his practice with a patient-centered approach and a commitment to creating a positive work environment for his team.

As the practice owner, Dr. Carlson coordinates comprehensive treatment plans and delivers high-quality restorative dental care. He finds tremendous fulfillment in building lasting relationships with patients and their families, and takes pride in earning their trust while consistently exceeding their expectations.

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How Do We Treat Sleep Apnea?

Mountain Vista Dental offers alternative solutions for sleep apnea that can be combined with or sometimes replace CPAP therapy to achieve the best outcomes for our patients.

Dr. Carlson can help to minimize snoring and manage sleep apnea with custom oral appliances designed to slightly reposition the jaw and gently open the airway for clear breathing throughout the night.

The first step is completing a sleep study to determine if you suffer from sleep apnea and the level of severity of your condition—mild, moderate, or severe. Dr. Carlson will refer you to a specialist to complete your sleep study.

Oral appliances work well for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. Dr. Carlson will also partner with your physician to help determine the best treatment for your sleep apnea that is most comfortable and effective for you.

Contact Your Colorado Springs Sleep Apnea Dentist

To learn more about sleep apnea and how we can help you, call our team at (719) 598-8886 to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Carlson at Mountain Vista Dental.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does sleep apnea impact your health?

Sleep apnea is a serious condition where your breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep. At Mountain Vista Dental, Dr. Carlson wants patients to understand that sleep apnea affects much more than just your sleep quality—it can impact your entire health.

What Happens During Sleep Apnea

When you suffer from sleep apnea, your airway is blocked during sleep. This causes you to stop breathing for short periods. Your body wakes you up just enough to restart breathing, but this happens over and over throughout the night. You might not even remember waking up, but your body never gets the restful sleep it needs.

How Sleep Apnea Affects Your Heart

Sleep apnea puts severe stress on your heart and blood vessels. The repeated drops in oxygen levels can lead to high blood pressure that's hard to control with medication. It also increases your risk of heart disease, irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and stroke. Studies show that severe sleep apnea can triple your risk of having a stroke.

Impact on Your Blood Sugar and Weight

Sleep apnea makes it harder for your body to control blood sugar, increasing your risk of developing diabetes. If you already have diabetes, sleep apnea can make it much harder to manage. The condition also affects hormones that control hunger, making weight management more difficult.

Effects on Your Daily Life

Poor sleep from sleep apnea leaves you feeling tired during the day, making it hard to concentrate, remember things, or think clearly. This can affect your work performance and increase your risk of accidents while driving or operating machinery.

How We Can Help

Dr. Carlson works with sleep specialists to provide oral appliances that can effectively treat sleep apnea. These custom-made devices help keep your airway open while you sleep, allowing you to breathe normally and get the restorative sleep your body needs.

Don't ignore the signs of sleep apnea—promptly addressing it can significantly improve your overall health and quality of life. Contact Mountain Vista Dental at (719) 598-8886 to book an evaluation with Dr. Carlson to learn more about sleep apnea treatment in Colorado Springs.

Sleep Apnea Technology

Panoramic X-Ray

At Mountain Vista Dental, we use panoramic x-rays to give Dr. Carlson a complete view of your entire mouth and jaw area in one picture. This special technology captures a wide, sweeping image that shows both your upper and lower teeth simultaneously, enabling us to identify issues such as wisdom teeth that have yet to erupt, jaw problems, or bone abnormalities.

Our digital panoramic system produces clearer images while using significantly less radiation than older x-ray technology. This means we can quickly see what's happening with your oral health while keeping you as safe as possible during your visit.

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You Deserve a Good Night's Rest!