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Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes significant disruption to one’s sleep, leading to daytime fatigue and an increased risk of severe health problems. Fortunately, treatments are available to help manage the symptoms of this condition, such as dental sleep treatment.
In this blog, our dental experts at ProHEALTH Dental will discuss how dental sleep treatment works and why it’s essential to seek treatment from your dentist.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a relatively common condition in which your breathing will stop and restart throughout your sleep cycle. This condition is harmful as it prevents your body and brain from getting enough oxygen when you sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea - The most common type of sleep apnea where your airflow is heavily reduced or stopped entirely due to a blocked upper airway.
- Central sleep apnea - This type of sleep apnea occurs when your brain fails to send signals to your body needed to breathe.
What Are The Dangers of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can have serious consequences if left untreated, including some of the following:
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Other cardiovascular diseases
- Depression
- Memory issues
- Diabetes
- Decreased libido
- Weight gain
- Frequent headaches
Additionally, people with untreated sleep apnea may experience extreme fatigue during the day due to poor sleep quality at night. Inadequate sleep can lead to difficulty concentrating, irritability, depression, and even an increased risk for motor vehicle accidents or industrial injuries due to lack of focus or drowsiness.
Therefore, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible if you think you may suffer from either form of sleep apnea.
What Is dental sleep treatment?
Dental sleep treatment is a field of dentistry specifically devoted to helping patients with symptoms of sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea. A dentist trained in dental sleep treatment will send the individual to a doctor who will conduct a sleep study on them.
If the person has this sleeping condition, one treatment that can be used is an oral appliance. These devices work by keeping the airway open during sleep, which helps reduce snoring and improves breathing quality. The most commonly used oral appliance therapy devices include the following:
- Mandibular advancement devices
- Mouthguards
- Tongue-retaining devices
However, a CPAP machine is the preferred method of treatment. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure and is designed to keep the airways open while you sleep so you can receive the oxygen you need when your body fails to do so.
CPAP machines have proven very effective. However, some individuals can't tolerate the machine. If this happens, they will opt for the oral device instead. Furthermore, due to the size of a CPAP machine, some people will only use it at home and switch to their oral devices when traveling.
Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy Devices
A custom-made oral appliance tailored to your specific needs can bring many benefits, including:
- Increased alertness during the day
- Improvement in overall mental and emotional health
- Improved sleep
- Reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke
- And many more
Seek Treatment from Your Dentist If You Suffer from Sleep Apnea
If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, it's essential to seek treatment from a healthcare provider as soon as possible to avoid any potential health risks associated with the condition. Doing so will ensure you receive the best treatment possible, whether with a CPAP Machine or an oral appliance.
For dental sleep treatment and oral appliance therapy in New York and New Jersey, choose ProHEALTH Dental. With our help, you and your loved ones could get better sleep again before you know it! Contact us online or call to schedule your dental sleep treatment appointment. (855) 750-5011