There are more than one cause and more than one solution for sleep apnea. At Nicholas Dose, DMD Family Dental Care, our team can examine the tissue and surrounding area to get a better idea of what is occurring and determine the best solution for your needs. It can be as easy as a simple appliance that wears much like a retainer while you sleep.
Your health matters. Sleep apnea is more than a frustration for your partner, it can be dangerous to your health. Snoring may be a symptom of sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has it and not everyone who has it, snores. The difficult part in diagnosing sleep apnea is that it occurs while you sleep, so you may not even be aware that you have it. Patients with sleep apnea often suffer from the following symptoms:
- Loud Snoring: One of the most typical signs of sleep apnea is loud snoring that is mixed with brief periods of silence and then a gasping of air. This is a clear sign that the person is having trouble getting air passing with moments of no air passing followed by the brain rousing the person just enough to get them to gasp for air.
- Choking or Gasping: Besides snoring, the person may experience moments of choking or gasping in their sleep.
Unrested: A symptom of sleep apnea is waking with a feeling of fatigue or exhaustion, this is because their sleep has been unknowingly disturbed throughout the night.
- Waking with Headaches: Another symptom of fatigue, associated with sleep apnea, is waking with headaches. This is due to the person not getting the rest they need.
Options for Better Breathing
The CPAP machine is just one option to assist patients in getting the oxygen needed while they sleep. There are other options.
During your appointment at Nicholas Dose, DMD Family Dental Care, we will want to determine why your airway is restricted when sleeping. Some of the most common reasons are the tongue slipping back partially covering your throat, or excessive tissue around your throat. In more extreme cases, surgery may be needed to remove tissue, but for most patients, we are able to customize an oral appliance to help you breathe better while you sleep.
Oral Appliance to Help With Sleep Apnea
You have options in helping you breathe better while you sleep without wearing masks or tubes. Some of the common dental appliances include:
- Mandibular Advancement Device: Mandibular is the scientific name of the lower jaw. This device is designed to pull your lower jaw slightly forward. For many patients, this slight movement is all they need to allow more air to pass through while they sleep. The MAD is worn like a retainer, it’s an acrylic device that fits over your teeth.
- Tongue Retaining Device: Sometimes referred to as a tongue retaining device, this appliance is designed to hold the tongue in place while you sleep. This is ideal for patients whose tongue slips back while sleeping, blocking their airway.
Are you interested in learning more about sleep apnea? Give us a call at (503) 647-4565. We are happy to help you learn more about your smile!
