Consultation
If you need help with sleep apnea, contact us for a free assessment.
Quality Treatment
Hometown Dental Co is experienced with treating sleep apnea.
Get a better night’s sleep.
Do you wake yourself up with your snoring, or has your partner informed you that your snoring is causing them to have sleepless nights?
While snoring is frustrating on its own, it can also signify a much larger problem.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a common but serious health condition caused by several factors, including weight gain, enlarged tonsils, genetics, and a deviated septum.
Men are two to three times more likely to have sleep apnea than women, and symptoms worsen with age. Read more here.
When you sleep, the soft tissues in the back of your throat relax so much that they vibrate with every breath and cause loud snoring.
They can even soften to the point that they obstruct your upper airway entirely.
It forces you to rouse multiple times during the night and prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
Suppose your partner reports that your snoring is uneven or that you start and stop snoring abruptly. In that case, you should schedule an appointment at Hometown Dental to find out if you have sleep apnea.
Some other common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include:
- A sore throat when you wake up
- Daytime sleepiness
- Headaches throughout the day
- Mood swings
- Waking up multiple times throughout the night
A sleep study may be necessary to determine the severity of your condition. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to other significant risk factors, including:
- Diabetes
- Depression
- ADHD
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Strokes
Additionally, poor sleep caused by sleep apnea can lead to drowsiness during the day, which can be dangerous while driving and cause problems at work and home.
Get directions
1113 Indianapolis Road
Greencastle, IN 46135
CPAP
Treating sleep apnea has been uncomfortable or invasive in the past. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are noisy and can be intrusive and cumbersome.
hypoglossal nerve stimulation
There is also the option of hypoglossal nerve stimulation. It is considered invasive because a medical device is fully implanted beneath the skin, and it electrically stimulates the nerve with the help of a remote.
Weight Loss
One significant risk factor for sleep apnea is obesity. Shedding as little as 10 percent of body weight can help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. Losing even more weight can cure sleep apnea.
Positional Therapy
Stomach and side sleepers are less likely to experience sleep apnea. But back sleepers are more likely to experience problems. Positional therapy’s goal is to keep you off your back. Devices range from simple to sophisticated.
Surgery and Implants
In some cases, genetics can cause sleep apnea. People with large tonsils or extra tissue in their throats may have trouble breathing while sleeping. Other issues could be the tongue, jaw, or soft palate.
Oral Appliances
These are also known as mandibular positioning devices and guide the jaw forward to position the tongue, helping to keep the airway open and reduce snoring. They are easy to use, portable, and comfortable.
Visit Hometown Dental for Sleep Apnea
If you think you or someone you care about might have sleep apnea or a snoring issue, call Hometown Dental, your dentist in Greencastle, Indiana today. We’ll do what we can to help you have a better night’s sleep.
At Hometown Dental, we treat OSA and sleep disorders with oral appliance therapy. The appliance is worn at night while you are sleeping. Unlike CPAP therapy, the device is comfortable to wear and custom-fitted to your mouth for a perfect fit. It also won’t disturb your partner’s sleep as a CPAP can!
If Drs. Knuth or Funke determine that an appliance is a good choice; they will fit you for your unique device. Your appliance works by moving your lower jaw into a position to increase the space in your airway. Doing this allows air to move freely through your airway and reduces the vibration that causes snoring.
Because your appliance is custom-made for your mouth, it fits comfortably and provides enough leeway for small jaw movements. It also does not obstruct your airflow.
Meet THE DENTISTS
DR. DENNIS KNUTH
PARTNER
I am proud to serve patients in our community. Through continuing education and state-of-the-art equipment, we are able to offer you and your family the high level of care you’re looking for. My team at Hometown Dental and I will give you a warm welcome and our ongoing commitment to your dental health.
I am very passionate about dentistry. I strive to do for you what I would do for any of my friends or family; always giving you the care you deserve.
I feel fortunate to have graduated from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where I received an outstanding dental education from some of the best mentors in the nation. Prior to dental school, I earned a degree in electrical engineering and worked for 6 years in the electronics industry in Cincinnati.
DR. TESS FUNKE
PARTNER
Dr. Funke is excited to have joined the Greencastle Hometown Dental team. She moved back to her home state, Indiana, from Arkansas after completing a one-year advanced training program.
Dr. Funke attended the University of Louisville for dental school, where she was involved in student leadership and served on a mission trip in Jamaica to provide dental care. Dr. Funke is a proud Boilermaker alumnus!
When Dr. Funke isn’t with patients, you might find her with her partner in crime, Adam, or other members of her large family. (Her mom has seven siblings, and her dad has five!) She loves curling up with a good book (shout out to any other Harry Potter fans), staying healthy through fitness, and exploring new cities.
