The Effects of Sleep Apnea

October 22, 2013

In our previous post, we talked about what sleep apnea is and what often causes it. Today, we would like to focus our attention on how untreated sleep apnea can affect your everyday life and your relationship with a partner. After all, sleep apnea isn’t just a slight inconvenience—it can have a serious impact on a patient’s health and quality of life.

But first, a reminder: sleep apnea is a condition in which a patient stops breathing for 10 or more seconds while asleep, causing the brain to wake the body up to breathe. Some patients aren’t even aware of waking up because they only move to a lighter stage of sleep. But whether you’re aware of it or not, a spotty night of sleep is still a spotty night of sleep.

Patients who struggle with sleep apnea may experience changes in mood, or they may find it difficult to stay awake at work or behind the wheel. This drowsiness can, in turn, put the patient at risk of having an accident. What’s more, with the stress and fatigue of interrupted sleep comes an inability to concentrate and even memory loss. More severe problems include high blood pressure and heart problems, or even premature death.

But these are just the symptoms that directly affect you. Because snoring is a common symptom of sleep apnea, your partner may not be getting a full night o rest either. Snoring can also put a great deal of strain on an otherwise healthy relationship.

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Thankfully, Dr. Gary Radz can provide relief with sleep apnea therapy. For a diagnosis or consultation, call our Denver dental office. We serve patients from Denver, Englewood, Aurora, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, and beyond.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

September 19, 2013

Do you routinely feel tired during the day, even after going to bed early the night before? Have others noticed that you seem stressed or moody? All three of these are signs that you may be struggling with interrupted sleep as a result of sleep apnea.

Patients with this underdiagnosed condition stop breathing for 10 or more seconds during sleep. As a result, the brain sends out a signal waking them up to take a breath. Not every sleep apnea patient will wake up all the way, though; some only move to a lighter stage of sleep, which explains how a sleep apnea patient may be unaware of his or her problem.

In many cases, sleep apnea is caused by obstruction. This type is known specifically as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, or OSAS. What causes the obstruction? The most common causes include the size of the patient’s airway passages, swelling, and the position of the tongue.

After the sleep apnea patient has returned to sleep, the cycle of sleeping and waking will continue throughout the night, leading to the drowsiness, stress, and moodiness we mentioned above. Sleep apnea can also make it difficult to concentrate and cause memory loss or accidents at home, work, or behind the wheel. If left untreated, it may also cause high blood pressure, heart problems, and premature death.

But thankfully, sleep apnea is treatable. As a locally and internationally recognized dentist, Dr. Gary M. Radz can provide effective relief at his Denver dental office. CPAP is a common and universally recognized treatment, but custom-made oral sleep appliances are quickly becoming the new standard for care.

Are you worried that you might be struggling with sleep apnea? Dr. Radz of Denver can help. Call us today for an appointment. We serve patients from Inglewood, Aurora, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Centennial, and all surrounding areas.

Learn More about Cosmetic Dentistry with Dr. Gary Radz

August 15, 2013

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Every day, all around the world, dentists are changing the lives of their patients with cosmetic dentistry. And among all the cosmetic services used by dentists, porcelain veneers are one of the most popular. With porcelain veneers, doctors have a way of improving the appearance of a patient’s front teeth, helping them overcome problems like staining, cracks, chips, or slight misalignment.

Because placing porcelain veneers is an art, though, dentists who are new to cosmetic dentistry might need some help learning how to use this or any other cosmetic service. That’s where you’ll want to turn to Dr. Gary Radz. As a practicing Colorado dentist with years of experience, Dr. Radz has made teaching others his mission. Every year, Dr. Radz gives 35-40 presentations all across country, the goal of which is to help dentists become better at cosmetic care.

Do you want to learn more about cosmetic dentistry? Find out where Dr. Radz will be teaching next by looking at his schedule. You can also read about the different kinds of classes he offers by clicking here. And if you have questions or want to find out how you can be a student in one of Dr. Radz’s upcoming classes, give us a call.

Helping dentists provide better care is what we’re all about.

The first post – Dr. Gary Radz

October 23, 2008

Hi, welcome to the blog site for the educational aspect of what I do in dentistry. On this site I intend to keep visitors updated on what I’m doing in dentistry and what is happening new in dentistry.

Additionally, I want to develop a forum to be able to interact with other dental professionals to inform, educate and share opinions.

Welcome….I look forward to the interaction.

Gary Radz

General Dentist – Cosmetic Dentistry of Colorado – www.radzdds.com

Snow Mountain Seminars – www.garyradz.com