What to Expect in a Sleep Test

If you suffer from sleep breathing disorders, you may be asked to undergo a test to monitor your body as you sleep. Many patients with Obstructive Sleeping Apnea and similar conditions do not realize how often they wake up at night, and thus they cannot properly describe their symptoms. A test provides a true picture of what you go through in a night.

Sleep Clinics

In most cases, you will be asked to spend a night or two in a sleep clinic. These facilities are specifically designed to monitor patients as they sleep. You may be asked to spend the latter half of a night in the lab before you actually go to bed. Once you fall asleep, a sleep technologist will watch your movements and record any appropriate data about them. An electronic device will also keep track of your body's functions to give insight into what is happening inside your body.

Sleep Tests

During your test, better known as a polysomnogram, a medical device will keep track of your breathing patterns, heart rate, blood pressure, and more to see how your body's stats fluctuate throughout the night. This helps doctors confirm or rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnea as the cause of daytime fatigue. Polysomnography (PSG) is an evolving science that provides clear, assessable data that lead to the diagnosis of sleeping disorders.

Not all tests are administered in labs. An ambulatory test involves a lightweight device that a patient can take home to use. If you were to go through a test like this, you would simply bring the device back to the doctor so he can diagnose the data. This does not allow physical monitoring, but it does provide the numerical data that acts as the foundation of the diagnosis.

For our tests, we use the Watch-PAT2000, which you can learn about through this free downloadable brochure.

Scheduling a Sleep Test

If you suffer from a sleep breathing disorder that you would like diagnosed, you may request an appointment with Dr. Udouj to discuss your symptoms and possibilities. He will work with you to determine the best options for your situation, and he will prescribe treatment options after the test is complete. You won't have to suffer from daytime drowsiness and irritability much longer.

Dr. John Udouj is a graduate from The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies - LVI. We utilize the latest equipment and materials to optimize the longevity of the dental work we create and provides best general & cosmetic dentistry in fort smith which includes Family Dentistry Fort Smith, cosmetic dental treatment, Teeth implants fort smith etc.

The Advantages of Sleep Dentistry

When it comes to routine dental visits, many people can become anxious or nervous about sitting down in the dentist chair. If the dental visit is more than routine and involves a procedure or other process to fix a dental problem, these issues can become exponentially worse. If you or someone you know have issues of fear or hesitancy that keep you from making a dental visit for either preventative or emergency care, sleep dentistry might be a viable option to help you overcome your reluctance. There are many practitioners of sleep dentistry in Kansas City and the surrounding area that are here to help.

Sleep dentistry is a process in which a patient is put under anesthesia that is monitored by a chair side anesthesiologist. This puts the patient under a light sleep that will help the dentist perform the necessary tasks to get them back into good dental health. There are many advantages to sleep dentistry for both the patient and the doctor. In more extreme cases of dental phobia, this type of procedure keeps both the patient and the dentist safe and allows for a more relaxed environment. This ensures that the experience is better for everyone all around.

To find out if you are a candidate for sleep dentistry, you will need to consult a practicing sleep dentist in your area for a consultation. If a previous dental experience has led to you distrust getting back in the chair, or if you have certain physical or mental constraints or other problems that make a traditional dentist visit hard to accomplish you might want to consider this option. There are several types of phobias, reactions, or just plain discomfort that can be counteracted effectively through sleep dentistry, but it is always a good idea to discuss your particular issue before trying the treatment.

Proper dental hygiene, maintenance, and corrective procedures should be a part of any healthy lifestyle. There is always going to be a natural apprehension to any type of medical or dental visit for many people, but when these factors become unbearable it is important to know that there are solutions that will help you maintain your overall health and well being. If you are willing to take the first step, you may find that sleep or sedation dentistry is right for you. Do your research and ask the proper questions, and your next dentist appointment can be one devoid of worry and trauma.