Will you go to your dentist to treat your sleep apnea or minimize snoring?
Chances are this won’t occur to you first thing. However, with the advancements in dentistry, dental professionals are now able to offer treatments for both these common health issues.
According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, around 25 million adults in the U.S. experience obstructive sleep apnea.
Obstructive sleep apnea or OSA causes repetitive breathing pauses throughout your sleep. Each pause can last from few to upwards of one minute.
Why Does Sleep Apnea Occur
Sleep apnea happens when muscles relax too much during your sleep, hence obstructing the air passage. Air then struggles and requires more force to pass through. Snoring is one sign of sleep apnea. The more forceful the airflow, the louder the snore is too.
How Sleep Disorder Can Impact Your Health
It’s crucial to treat sleep apnea immediately as it not only affects sleep quality, it can also negatively impact your over health. Sleep apnea can cause poor cellular regeneration. This, in turn, can make your body more susceptible to diseases.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
Your physician can look into your condition and recommend appropriate treatment plan. Depending on the extent of the issue, they may also suggest undergoing a surgery. One of the most widely accepted treatments for sleep apnea is CPAP. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy makes use of a machine to deliver constant air pressure through the nose, hence preventing the airway from getting blocked while you sleep.
However, some patients feel uncomfortable using a CPAP machine. This is where a dental visit could be extra beneficial. Your dentist may recommend Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) to help alleviate sleep apnea. This treatment makes use of a custom fit mouthguard that you will need to wear during sleep. The mouthguard helps keep your airway unobstructed, preventing snoring.
Here at Image Dental Care, we welcome patients with sleep apnea along with their physicians. We create and monitor effectiveness of oral appliances as an alternative to other medical treatments such as CPAP. You don’t have to sleep on your own because of your snoring. You also need not compromise your health.
Don’t take sleep apnea lightly. There’s a way to address it. Your dentist can help. Talk to us or see your doctor today.