Treating Sleep Apnea with an Oral Appliance Instead of CPAP

Sleep apnea affects millions of Americans and has become a serious health issue. The American Sleep Apnea Association states that “80% of the cases of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea are undiagnosed.”

This means that there are even more people suffering from sleep apnea than we know. 

Chances are you or someone you know is dealing with one of the three types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and complex sleep apnea syndrome.

Dr. Silverman and the team at Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry are compassionate and experienced in serving patients with sleep apnea challenges. Together, we can work to a solution that will provide you with effective relief to improve your overall health.

How to Treat/Fix Sleep Apnea

When someone has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), they have a few options for treatment. When the lower jaw relaxes while sleeping, the soft tissues in the throat move into the airway space.

One non-invasive treatment method that has proven successful time and time again is Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). While the person is wearing the oral appliance and sleeping, the tongue, lower jaw, soft palate, and uvula will be slightly pushed forward. This helps to prevent airway blockage, which means you will sleep much better and more soundly.

Oral Appliance Therapy is a wonderful option for those with a milder sleep apnea diagnosis. The oral appliance is removable and many patients report that the appliance feels similar to that of a retainer or mouthguard.

Advantages and Benefits of Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances

• The oral appliances on the market today have high success rates. Many patients love to wear them as opposed to using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. The CPAP is bulky and cumbersome, not to mention a pain to travel with, whereas the oral appliance is small and easy to pack in your luggage. As you can see, the oral appliance is a great alternative to the CPAP machine.

• With an oral appliance, you simply place it in your mouth before you fall asleep and take it out when you wake up in the morning.

• Cleaning it is very easy and important to preserve the lifespan of the oral appliance.

• The oral appliance is safe and very effective for those who suffer from mild to moderate OSA. It actually resembles a sports mouth guard and is comfortable to wear at night.

• For some patients, it may take a couple of weeks to get used to wearing something in your mouth while sleeping. But once you are used to it, you will experience peaceful night’s rest over and over again.

Ready for Your Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance?

If you have been recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and are looking for a solution that works, call us today. If you think you have sleep apnea, but have not been diagnosed quite yet, call us today.

Whichever situation you find yourself in, Dr. Silverman and our team can help you.

Since there are several types of oral appliances on the market, we can determine which is the best for you and your individual case. Your best fit and option may be a tongue retaining appliance or perhaps a mandibular repositioning appliance. By coming in for a thorough consultation, we can create a custom-made appliance that will be much more effective than any over-the-counter devices bought at a store.

If you think you may have sleep apnea, but have yet to be diagnosed or if you have been recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and are looking for a solution that works, Advanced Cosmetic & Family Dentistry can help.

An oral appliance could be an easier, more functional, and convenient option to treat your sleep apnea.

By partnering with us, we can work together to care for your whole-health. We are conveniently located in Alpharetta, GA and our office phone number is (678) 551-6864. Call us today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you experience a peaceful night’s sleep!

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Resources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631

https://www.sleepapnea.org/learn/sleep-apnea-information-clinicians/

Posted by Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry
4205 North Point Parkway, Building D, Alpharetta, GA 30022
Phone: (678) 551-6864