Do I Have Sleep Apnea Bellevue, WA
Artisan Dental is a dental practice in Bellevue specializing in management of snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Syeda Bakhtawar and her team are committed to providing the highest quality personalized care for patients with custom oral appliance therapy. Working closely with the physicians, they provide an excellent alternative to CPAP to improve sleep, overall health and transform lives.
To be eligible for oral appliance therapy you will need the following prerequisites:
- Minimum of 8 healthy teeth on upper and lower arches each. These teeth should not have significant bone loss, mobility, failing restorations, or untreated decay.
- Absence of significant and active periodontal (gum) disease
- Absence of significant and active Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
- Have a dental check-up and cleaning within a year of consultation. If you do not have a dentist currently, we will be happy to offer you a dental checkup and cleaning at our office.
Credentials
- Dr. Syeda is a Diplomate of American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, the highest credential a dentist can achieve in the field of dental sleep medicine.
- Over 10 years of experience in dental sleep medicine.
- Dr. Syeda is the key opinion leader for J. Morita’s Cone Beam CT machine Veraview X800. A breakthrough in 3D imaging technology.
- State of the art technology with convenient and accurate intraoral digital scanning with itero. No messy impressions involved during records.
Insurance & Billing Expertise
- In network with most medical insurance providers like Premera, Aetna, Cigna, Regence, Tricare and Kaiser Permanente to ensure the best possible coverage for your oral appliance.
- No insurance – No problem. Their fee for service for non-insured patients is highly competitive.
- Care credit and in-office payment plans offered.
- For all referred patients, initial consultation with Dr. Syeda is at no charge to the patients.
- Medical insurance preauthorization and billing taken care of by the expert team as a courtesy to the patient.
Follow Up Care
- Long-term support after oral appliance delivery. Morning jaw repositioner and individualized TMJ exercises protocol is provided to all patients.
- Correspondence with referring physicians at every stage of care, to keep them informed of progress and to ensure common care goals are met.
Designations & Awards
Seattle Met Magazine Peer Reviewed
Top Dentist 2022, 2023, 2024
America’s Best Dentists Award 2019-2023
OKU - National Dental Honor Society Inductee
American Association of Women Dentists Award
Best Advanced Standing Dentist Award
International College of Dentist Merit Awardd
Best Advance Standing Dentist Award
American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Award
Google Reviews
"My hand hat’s off to Dr. Syeda Bakhtawar and the Artisan Dental Team. They help saved my marriage, my spouse was exhausted from not sleeping due to my loud snoring and sleep apnea. We tried the CPAP option but that didn’t work due to the CPAP machine operating sounds that also woke my spouse up…………..I almost gave up until I discussed a dental appliance device with Dr. Syeda Bakhtawar. She and her team were excellent to work with during the dental appliance device process and came up with a great solution that worked for me and my spouse. The dental device works great for my sleep apnea and has cut out my snoring. My spouse is very happy!" - Jeff Felix
"Having had many dental nightmares, I was apprehensive about being fitted for a dental device for sleep apnea. When I saw what the device looked like, I was even more nervous. However, Dr. Bakhtawar quickly put me at ease. She and her assistant, Maria, were very informative and kind and gave me the utmost care throughout the process. Leanna was very personable and accommodating with appointments that fit with my work schedule. My experience was very positive and very helpful in reducing the severity of my sleep apnea. I am grateful to all." - Cheryl Adams
"I came to Dr. Syeda to discuss the possibility of trying the oral sleep appliance. I was desperate. I have had sleep apnea for 9 years. Despite having tried two different C-Pap machines, having tried several different style masks and head gear, nothing seemed to work. The masks and head gear would continue to fall off along with having to pull my tubing with me every time I rolled over in bed. I had continued to wake with extremely bad headaches, tired all day, and felt exhausted. After trying the oral sleep appliance, I can say without hesitation, this was the best decision I have made for my overall health and well being. No more headaches! I have so much more energy and feel so much better. To top it off, I never realized I was grinding and clenching my teeth so much at night. No wonder my teeth were wearing down, causing cracks in my teeth. I am relieved to know that not only is my sleep apnea finally under control, my teeth are being protected from breakage. Something as simple as an oral sleep appliance! I can’t stress enough the positive difference the oral sleep appliance has made me feel. Thank you Dr. Syeda, your expertise and teachings on the oral sleep appliance has made a huge impact on my life. I am forever thankful." - Bobi Haugen
"I was diagnosed with sleep apnea in 2019. I did a sleep study and was told to look at using a CPAP or a dental night guard that would help with my grinding and my breathing. I love to travel so lugging a CPAP everywhere sounded awful. My doctor recommended Artisan Dental for a consultation about night guards."
"Artisan Dental listened to my concerns and answered my questions. I decided to go forward with getting the guard. They worked with my schedule, fitted me, taught me how to adjust the guard, and taught me exercises to keep my bite the same after wearing the guard. Since using it, my sleep quality has increased, my moods have uplifted, and I have been able to reduce medications. I can also pack my guard in my purse for travel." - Ann Batt
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition that makes it difficult for your body to receive the oxygen you need to properly function. Without enough oxygen, you will feel drained and sluggish, but since the condition manifests itself at night, most people have no idea that they have it.
How does sleep apnea impact a person’s health?
There are many health problems that can arise from untreated sleep apnea. They can include a stroke, high blood pressure, headaches, diabetes, depression, mood swings, heart failure, ADHD that becomes worse, and an overall lack of well being.
How does sleep apnea negatively impact a person’s life?
Without enough Oxygen, your body will have a difficult time functioning. Beyond the health effects, this can translate to not having enough energy to stay awake past dinner, enjoy your kid's birthday parties, go for a bike ride, or even drive your car. In fact, when you are tired, the basic and often mundane activities of life can put you to sleep. This can make it dangerous to get behind the wheel and could compromise your work performance. Essentially, your quality of life can be greatly diminished, making it critical that you visit a dentist who is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, with extensive training and experience to manage your sleep apnea.
What is the difference between sleep apnea and a sleep disorder?
Sleep apnea is a physical condition that makes it impossible to breathe clearly while you are sleeping. As a result, your body will not get enough oxygen to function at an optimal level. A sleep disorder can be one of the following:
- Insomnia. When it comes to sleep disorders, insomnia can be long-term or temporary. Often brought on by external factors like stress, insomnia can be treated with an oral medication.
- Narcolepsy. As a sleep disorder, narcolepsy is by far the worst. It can impact you throughout your entire life, making you feel so exhausted that you are forced to suddenly fall asleep, regardless of where you are or what you are doing. Narcolepsy is a true life disrupter.
- Restless leg syndrome. Commonly impacting pregnant women, restless leg syndrome can force your legs to move all throughout the night. Giving you a feeling of constant tingles or a burning and itching sensation, RLS can be highly distracting and impact anyone at any time. It helps to go for a walk or exercise during the day, since those who are sedentary tend to experience RLS more frequently.
- Jet lag. While most people view jet lag as a part of long-distance travel, it is a real sleep disorder, and if your body does not adjust well to the changes in time zones, jet lag could impact you for days or even weeks if you continue to travel from place to place. This disruption in your sleep patterns can make it difficult to get caught up on the rest you need, and may leave you feeling worn down to the point of potentially getting sick. Fortunately, this condition will eventually rectify itself when you get back home and stop traveling.
- Snoring. If you snore too loudly, you could wake up your spouse, or just yourself. Many people cannot get a good night’s sleep because they snore too loudly, and this condition is often brought on by sleep apnea.
Check out what others are saying about our sleep apnea support services on Google: Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
What are the two main types of sleep apnea?
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your lower jawbone muscles will be too weak to hold your jaw in place as you sleep. As a result, it can fall backward and your tongue with it. Your tongue will then block your airway, making it impossible to breathe clearly while sleeping. This is why people with OSA will typically snore or sound like they are choking in their sleep. This is one of the signs that the body is trying to move the tongue in order to breathe. Another cause of OSA is having too much fatty tissue in the back of your throat. This is one reason obesity is a risk factor for OSA.
- Central Sleep Apnea. In this condition, the brain is responsible for the sleep apnea. By not sending signals to the muscles in charge of breathing, your body fails to respond as it should. This is not something that can be treated by a dentist, but instead, you will need to see a specialist.
How is sleep apnea treated?
At Artisan Dental, we recommend that patients explore all non-invasive treatment options first. This is why we will often suggest that our Bellevue, WA patients wear a removable oral appliance. An oral appliance is a convenient treatment option because it does not make any noise and is incredibly discrete. Some patients also require the use of a CPAP machine to provide them with additional oxygen. The challenge with a CPAP is that it can be loud and uncomfortable to wear. The third treatment option for OSA is to have surgery to remove the extra fatty tissue blocking your airway.
How does an oral appliance work?
Wearing an oral appliance is incredibly easy. It is customized for your mouth specifically so it fits snugly and securely. As a result, you can simply slip it into place when you go to sleep. It remains in place inside of your mouth and does an excellent job of holding your lower jaw in the forward position. This prevents your tongue from falling backward and keeps your airway clear. Some people receive all of the benefit they need by wearing an oral appliance, while those with severe sleep apnea may also require the use of a CPAP machine at the same time. In this case, most patients report that their CPAP is far more comfortable than when they were using it as a standalone treatment option.
To learn more about sleep apnea or discuss your oral health in general, call 425-454-2005 and schedule an appointment with our Bellevue dental office. At Artisan Dental, we are happy to discuss your health challenges and make recommendations, even if we have to refer you to a specialist for treatment.
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