The Apnea-Dentist Connection

Do you snore, toss and turn all night or wake up several times a night? An estimated 18 to 20 million American adults had the same problems before they were diagnosed with sleep apnea by a sleep specialist. The primary treatment for this condition is continuous positive air pressure therapy (you know, getting a CPAP machine), but this therapy can be hard to get just right.

A lot of people don’t know it, but I can help with your sleep apnea, too! A lot of CPAP patients with mild to moderate apnea find that they can’t really tolerate the machine, so they come to visit their friendly neighborhood dentist for help. We don’t do CPAP, but we have something just as good that can reduce or eliminate your need for sleeping in a space mask every night…

Everybody sleeps, and when you do, muscles relax all over your body, including your throat and mouth. If you relax too much, you start to have problems. Your tongue or other tissues can block your airway partially, resulting in loud snoring, or completely, causing obstructive sleep apnea, which is a complete airway blockage — even if it’s just for a short time.

I don’t need to give you a lecture on the seriousness of not breathing at night, you’re smart people. Whether it’s yourself or your bed partner that has an issue with apnea, your sleep is being destroyed by it. I’ve heard story after story from apnea patients who can’t successfully use their CPAPs, but who succeed dramatically with a dental appliance like a mandibular advancement device (MAD) or a tongue retaining mouthpiece.

They’re easy to fit in the office and quick to make. In a few days, your sleep will start to improve, you’ll have more energy and you’ll feel fantastic. Here’s a resource for you to read about dental appliances. Share it with your noisy bed partner, too.


Source: http://www.alaskasleep.com/blog/dental-appliances-for-sleep-apnea

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