When snoring, dry mouth, and morning headaches are so severe that your sleep is interrupted, the cause may be a condition called Sleep apnea. Sleep Apnea can lead to high blood pressure, morning irritability and fatigue that can’t be resolved by more rest. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, this condition will not only interrupt breathing, disrupt sleep pattern and gradually influence overall health, it even contributes to your risk for a stroke.
The most common solution clinicians offer for Sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. This cumbersome solution can be considered a nuisance to wear and to maintain. Luckily there is another option available for those who wish to reduce/eliminate the effects of Sleep Apnea.
Dentists can treat mild to moderate sleep apnea using an oral appliance. A custom-made mouth-guard device that you wear while sleeping. An oral appliance mouth guard is easier to clean and wear when compared to a CPAP machine.
What Is an Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea?
An oral appliance, also called an apnea dental appliance or a snore mouth guard is designed to fit over upper and lower teeth. It shifts the jaw slightly forward to allow for an unobstructed airway during sleep.
It resembles a sports mouthguard or a night guard, however it is not the same since both, the fit and the mechanics are different. It is important that you understand this difference since oftentimes people who experience Sleep Apnea think that purchasing an over-the-counter snoring device online is the same as having a dentist prescribed oral appliance.
It is not.
Custom-Fit Oral Appliance For Sleep Apnea
An oral appliance you get from a dentist is custom designed to fit your bite and your jaw, unlike OTC snoring devices. Making an oral appliance much more effective at treating your condition. Poorly fitted sleep apnea mouth guards, or OTC mouthguards may actually worsen the problem by shifting the teeth, resulting in jaw discomfort and obstructed airway.
Oral Appliance vs CPAP: What’s the Difference?
CPAP machines work by applying constant air pressure to keep the airways open, while oral appliances do not depend on pressure but rather on positioning. This is one of the reasons why some patients would prefer oral appliances, other reasons include, no bulky equipment, quiet and travel-friendly, always easier to wear, and no mask or hoses that get in the way of sleep comfort.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Mouth Guard for Sleep Apnea?
Oral appliances are most appropriate for patients who experience mild to moderate sleep apnea, cannot tolerate CPAP, snore heavily, or would like a non-invasive form of treatment.
What to Expect from Your Dentist
A dentist is the best partner to work with in order to make your appliance perfectly suited to your needs. Your dentist will develop a custom solution for you based on your sleep study or other diagnostic solution that allows them to better understand your condition. To provide an accurate fit, impressions are taken to ensure the appliance is made for comfortability.
Once you receive your oral appliance, follow up care like regular checkups will ensure that the appliance is functioning properly and providing significant relief. During these checkups, the dentist will ask you questions to determine if you are experiencing any side effects like jaw discomfort, tooth pressure, or excessive saliva. Although you may experience some of these issues in the beginning days of wearing this device, these issues tend to subside after long-term wear.
When to Speak to a Dentist about Sleep Apnea.
Sleep apnea is not easy to identify without the assistance of a dentist who is qualified to analyze symptoms and determine the cause of your sleep condition. You can assist the dentist in arriving at the right diagnosis by reporting symptoms like loud snoring, daytime fatigue, morning headaches, and interrupted breathing during sleep.
Since most of these symptoms mentioned above are easy to miss because you are asleep when they occur, you should be sure to check with anyone in your household, specifically a partner whom you share a bed with to see if they’ve witnessed any of these symptoms from you.
Dentist For Sleep Apnea In Harrisburg, NC
Reaching out to a dentist who can assist with sleep conditions like Icard & Strein Family Dentistry for evaluation and diagnostic purposes is an important first step. This is not a condition that many people even know they have, even if they can identify the symptoms they often can’t identify the cause.
We work with patients who need the support of an oral appliance to treat sleep apnea by providing custom solutions for relief. Give us a call or schedule a consultation today with us today.
