Dental Devices For Sleep Apnea | Dentist In Harrisburg, NC
Common Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder where a patient’s breathing stops and starts continuously while they sleep. The main symptom of sleep apnea is loud snoring. If you snore loudly and always feel exhausted, even after 7-8 hours of sleep, you need to consult your doctor.
There are three types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of apnea, which occurs when your throat muscles relax. This blocks your air passages, debilitating your ability to breathe.
- Central sleep apnea: Central sleep apnea happens due to the brain’s inability to send signals to the breathing muscles.
- Complex sleep apnea syndrome: Complex sleep apnea syndrome occurs when you have central and obstructive sleep apnea. This is quite rare but a very serious condition. So, if you are experiencing complex sleep apnea, you might need to be hospitalized.
Four essential facts about sleep apnea
Sleep apnea affects more than 20 million adults, and only a few are diagnosed, which is alarming because this means so many people are sick and aren’t receiving the care they need.
Here are some facts you should know about sleep apnea:
- Sleep apnea can affect children – Shocking but true. Children are more at risk of developing sleep apnea, contrary to popular belief that only only adults get sleep apnea. Proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary even for children. Conditions like ADHD, bed-wetting, and childhood obesity are some of the other health conditions directly linked to sleep apnea.
- Untreated sleep apnea can result in other health hazards – If the condition is left untreated, a sufferer might be at risk of developing heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, depression and anxiety, and suffocation.
- Physical features can determine your health risk – Your physical feature can be a risk factor, like any of the following: obesity, a recessed chin, undersized upper airway, compromised jaw position, oversized tongue, etc.
- Dental treatment can help with the condition – Surgeries and CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) help in treating sleep apnea. However, many patients don’t like the hassle of CPAP and dread surgeries. Hence, they opt for oral appliance therapy. This appliance can fit inside the mouth to create an air passage.
What is the role of oral appliance therapy?
Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea treats sleep apnea. The process involves sleeping with a removable oral appliance by placing it inside your mouth. The appliance looks like a mouthguard and can be custom made.
The role of this little device prevents blockage of your airway pathways because of your tongue. The oral appliance also supports the jaw in a forward position, making a passage for the air to pass.
A physician diagnoses your sleep disorder using a sleep study. Once you are diagnosed, a specialist will then make a custom oral appliance, which is more comfortable, removable, portable, and easy to use. For a more severe case, CPAP therapy is often recommended.
Oral appliance therapy in North Carolina
Do you live in Harrisburg, Charlotte? Are you looking for oral appliance therapy for treating sleep apnea in Charlotte, NC? Schedule an appointment with us. We, at Icard & Strein Family Dentistry, take special care of your health problem. We create custom appliances for each of our patients that perfectly fit them.
Our Harrisburg NC Dentist Office
To learn more about dental treatments from Icard & Strein Family Dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, call our Harrisburg, NC dental office today at 704.455.5003.
