What is sleep apnea treatment?
Sleep apnea occurs when the tissues in your airway collapse, making it difficult for oxygen to reach your lungs and interrupting your breathing. Untreated sleep apnea increases your risk of stroke, hypertension, acid reflux, diabetes, and heart attack, along with negatively affecting your oral health. Oral appliance therapy involves the use of an oral appliance (also known as a mandibular advancement device) to reduce symptoms associated with sleep apnea.
How oral appliances alleviate sleep apnea
The oral appliance maneuvers your jaw forward and opens your airway. Some also hold your tongue in place so it doesn’t obstruct your airway.
The process for acquiring an oral device for Sleep Apnea Treatment
After an examination, we’ll suggest an oral appliance that addresses the issues contributing to your sleep apnea. Using our 3D scanner to take digital impressions, we will design and 3D print your custom-fitting sleep apnea appliance. Once you have a chance to use the appliance, we’ll make adjustments to ensure it’s right for your needs.
What to expect after starting Sleep Apnea Treatment
It might take a few nights to a few weeks to get used to sleeping with an oral appliance. You may notice extra drool and a bit of soreness as your mouth acclimates to the oral device used for sleep apnea treatment. We recommend wearing the appliance for as long as you can tolerate on the first night, then take it out if you need a break. Try again the next night, and over the course of a few nights to a few weeks, you will be able to wear the appliance for longer until you can sleep comfortably throughout the night.
How does sleep apnea treatment improve your oral health?
Untreated sleep apnea can cause serious oral health problems. A sufficient amount of high-quality sleep improves your overall well-being, including your oral health. sleep apnea treatment reduces your chances of experiencing mouth ulcers and can slow the progression of gum disease. Healthy gums are essential for minimizing your chances of tooth decay and cavities and helping you keep your natural teeth structurally sound. Sleep apnea is also associated with mouth breathing. Mouth breathing causes your mouth to dry out; a dry mouth increases your risk of mouth sores, gum inflammation, and plaque. Treating your sleep apnea will make you less likely to breathe through your mouth.
What are the benefits of sleep apnea treatment?
There are multiple benefits associated with sleep apnea treatment:
Enhances your quality of sleep
Poor sleep quality leads to excessive daytime sleepiness and problems focusing; it can also make you feel irritable and impatient.
Reduces jaw and head pain
When you use sleep apnea treatment to adjust the positioning of your jaw, you decrease jaw clenching and teeth grinding that occurs during your sleep. These behaviors increase wear and tear on your teeth and lead to headaches and jaw soreness.
Lowers your risk of experiencing dental complications
Sleep apnea treatment lowers your risks of experiencing dental complications associated with sleep apnea, including gingivitis and tooth decay.
Reduces your risk of serious health problems
Sleep apnea is associated with acid reflux, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, COPD, and even cancer. sleep apnea treatment can lower your risk of these serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions.
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