Overview of sleep apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder in which the individual stops breathing due to obstructions in their throat and upper respiratory tract or collapse. In severe cases, this can mean the collapse of upper respiratory muscles that block airflow as well. Restricting proper breathing while sleeping does not allow the person to enter deeper stages of sleep (REM sleep) and this results in lower-quality sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing the soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. As a result, sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing up to hundreds of times a night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute. Snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia are all signs that you could be losing your shut-eye to sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be a potentially life-threatening condition. It can increase the risk for other serious health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, and impotence.
The traditionally prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. It involves sleeping with a face mask connected by tubing to a constantly running machine. Although CPAP is effective, up to half of patients don’t adhere to the treatment. Dentists can provide an alternate sleep solution with oral appliance therapy.
common OSA symptoms
Loud or frequent snoring
Silent pauses in breathing during sleep
Choking or gasping sounds during sleep
Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
Waking in the morning and not feeling refreshed
Insomnia
Morning headaches
Waking during the night to go to the bathroom
Difficulty concentrating
Memory Loss
Decreased Sexual Desire
Irritability
If you or a loved one are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, call our office to schedule a consultation!
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea that fits easily into your lifestyle. A dental oral appliance looks like a sports mouth guard and is worn only during sleep. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway, preventing sleep apnea and snoring.
Once you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea by a sleep physician, a dentist experienced in dental sleep medicine can make a custom-fitted oral appliance using impressions and models of your teeth. Many medical insurance plans cover oral appliance therapy. Patients like it because it’s comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable, convenient for travel, and easy to clean.
Treating snoring or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can help you feel like a new person. You will find that your symptoms, and your quality of life, can improve dramatically when you remain committed to your treatment and use it nightly. Custom-fit oral appliances from Good Night Sleep Solutions can improve your sleep, restore your alertness, and revitalize your health.
If you have concerns about snoring and sleep apnea, it may be time to make an appointment. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, I can recommend a sleep physician to help get you started on your path to treatment. If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, I can fit you with an oral appliance. Our team at Good Night Sleep Solutions is ready to answer your questions about obstructive sleep apnea, dental sleep medicine, and oral appliance therapy.
Our office uses dental practices to adjust the position of your jaw to open up the airway and allow better breathing while you sleep and provide better quality sleep each night with personalized oral appliances that are much more portable and convenient to use anywhere than a CPAP!
Please feel free to call our office if you have any questions about the effects of OSA and our treatment services!
