Updated in July of 2026
Has someone ever told you that you snore loudly or seem to stop breathing at night? You might have sleep apnea. It's a common condition, and the good news is that it's very treatable once you know what's going on.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep. This usually happens because your airway becomes blocked or too narrow for air to pass through easily.
Most people with sleep apnea have obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. This means the soft tissue in your throat relaxes too much during sleep and blocks your airway. Your brain senses this and briefly wakes you up so you can breathe again, often without you even realizing it happened.
A less common type, central sleep apnea, happens when your brain doesn't send the right signals to the muscles that control your breathing. Some people have a mix of both, which doctors call complex sleep apnea.
What Are the Signs of Sleep Apnea?
The most common signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring and feeling tired during the day, even after a full night in bed. Here are other signs to watch for:
- Snoring that's loud enough to bother others in the house
- Gasping or choking sounds while you sleep
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Feeling drowsy or foggy during the day
- Trouble concentrating
- Waking up often during the night
If a few of these sound familiar, it's worth bringing them up at your next dental or medical visit. You don't need to have every symptom for it to be worth checking out.
How Is Sleep Apnea Dangerous?
A potentially serious condition, sleep apnea, is more than just loud snoring. Mostly at night, patients suffering from sleep apnea experience blockages and disruptions in their airway that diminish the quality of their sleep and potentially lead to other conditions such as:
- Fatigue during the day
- Heart conditions
- High blood pressure
- Risk of Stroke
Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
So maybe you or a loved one potentially suffers from sleep apnea; what’s next? Our friendly dentists in Fishers have experience assisting patients suffering from this highly treatable condition. First, we need to determine if a patient suffers from sleep apnea. We can use our cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess any potential dental problems leading to sleep apnea. Next, we send patients home with a portable device that monitors and records data from their airflow during sleep for a proper diagnosis.
How Do We Treat Sleep Apnea in Fishers
We often treat mild to moderate sleep apnea with a custom oral appliance instead of a CPAP machine. A CPAP machine is a device that uses a mask and gentle air pressure to keep your airway open at night. It works well, but some people find it bulky or hard to get used to.
A custom oral appliance is a small, comfortable device you wear in your mouth while you sleep. It gently holds your jaw in a slightly forward position, which keeps your airway from collapsing. Many patients prefer it because it's quiet, easy to travel with, and doesn't need a power source.
Ready to Sleep Better? We're Here to Help
If snoring or daytime tiredness has been bothering you, or someone you sleep near, we'd love to help you figure out what's going on. A simple exam is often the first step toward much better sleep. Schedule a Consultation or call us at (317) 773-1618.