Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of apnea and causes the upper airways to become partially or completely blocked during sleep. During an episode, the pressure to open the airway increases and causes the chest muscles to work harder. When breathing resumes, it may cause the person's body to jerk, which leads to less restful sleep.
OSA affects people of all ages, including infants, although it is most common in people who are overweight, obese, or over the age of 40. Someone with OSA is more likely to snore and feel fatigued during the day. The person may be more restless during sleep, wake up suddenly in the middle of the night, or have a sore throat upon waking. Other possible symptoms include night sweats, headaches, or sexual dysfunction. If left untreated, OSA can lead to hypertension, stroke, congestive heart failure, and even diabetes.
When a doctor diagnoses a patient with OSA, the first treatment option is usually a continuous positive airway pressure machine. However, a CPAP machine does not work for every patient. When it is not an option, the doctor will likely refer the patient to a dentist. A dentist can help by fitting the patient with an oral appliance.
Oral appliance therapy is especially helpful for patients who have mild to moderate OSA. Oral mandibular advancement devices help in one of two ways. Some of them are useful for blocking the tongue from falling back into the throat and obstructing the airways. Other devices are made to advance the lower jaw forward to create more breathing room and keep airways open during sleep.
When a patient needs an oral appliance for OSA, the dentist will first make an impression of the patient's teeth. The device will then be made before the patient returns for a second appointment to do a fitting. When the device fits correctly, the patient will also receive a repositioner to use in the morning. This is to realign the bite, which often shifts slightly when wearing the appliance during sleep. In some cases, there is a third visit to further adjust the device and ensure it works correctly. Finally, a sleep apnea test is often performed to see if the appliance improves the symptoms of OSA.
There are several benefits to using oral appliance therapy to treat OSA. In addition to improving problems during sleep, it may also help patients feel more awake during the day, have more level moods, and concentrate better. Using an oral appliance also makes traveling easier than if the patient were to take a CPAP machine everywhere. Finally, the device is quieter and does not require electricity to work.
People who suspect they may have sleep apnea or have been diagnosed with it should talk to their doctor and dentist to determine whether oral appliance therapy is a good option for improvement.
Request an appointment here: https://drdelucia.com or call Anthony DeLucia D.D.S., P.A. at (772) 492-7045 for an appointment in our Stuart office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Sleep Apnea in Stuart, FL.
Sleep apnea affects tens of millions of American adults. Without an effective treatment solution, obstructive sleep apnea can cause symptoms that affect the patient negatively at night and throughout each day. The good news is that there are effective treatment solutions for sleep apnea. In this review, we discuss the most popular options from a…
You may be wondering whether a general dentist can help if you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Unknown to many, dentists actually provide oral appliances for patients after diagnosing them with a sleeping disorder like snoring and sleep apnea. These oral devices work by keeping the airways open while sleeping. Continue reading to learn…
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can affect people of all ages. It occurs when an obstruction in a person’s airway causes a temporary disruption in breathing during sleep time. If you are struggling with this issue, your dentist may be able to help. The use of oral appliances may open the airway and…
You do not need to struggle with sleep apnea. Call us to schedule an appointment for treatment.An obvious sign of sleep apnea is snoring loud enough to wake others up or having brief periods of breathing cessation while asleep. Fortunately, we have a treatment for sleep apnea that is easy to use and effective.Do I…