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For some patients, oral appliances are the best option for treating the symptoms of sleep apnea. A dentist can help to create the perfect appliance for your particular mouth and to fulfill your needs. While an oral appliance can be a great choice for treating the symptoms of sleep apnea, it is still important to treat the root causes. The only way to truly stop sleep apnea is to discover what is causing it and to resolve that particular issue.
Still, sleep apnea oral appliances can allow a patient to sleep comfortably throughout the night and wake up feeling rested. It can also be an excellent solution for the spouse of a patient with sleep apnea—allowing them to sleep well throughout the night without having to listen to snoring!
Speak with your dentist about an oral appliance for sleep apnea.
Do I Have Sleep Apnea?
There are a few different signs that you can look out for to see if you have sleep apnea. If you notice any of these signs, you’ll want to get to the root of the issue, which may include visiting a doctor. It is extremely important that you don’t ignore the different signs of sleep apnea, as it can become very dangerous if left untreated.
Some of the signs of sleep apnea include:
- Waking up multiple times throughout the night.
- Waking up in the night, gasping for air.
- Extremely loud and annoying snoring.
- Headaches upon waking.
- Dry throat upon waking.
- The loss of memory or difficulty learning.
- Fatigue throughout the day.
- Falling asleep often throughout the day.
- Mood swings, depression, and other mood disorders.
It can be difficult to determine the exact root of some of these issues. If you sleep with a partner, though, they will likely let you know that you snore a lot—and loudly. If you don’t have a partner and no one tells you that you snore, you may simply need to be on the lookout for the other issues listed above. If you are experiencing any, a few, or all of these symptoms often, speak with your doctor about whether you may have sleep apnea and what treatments are available.
Call Downtown Dental Excellence Today!
(281) 592-0597
Can a General Dentist Provide Braces?
Orthodontics is a specialized field, and because of this, not all dentists are able to provide orthodontic services. Your general dentist may be able to provide you with orthodontic services (like braces), but it is likely that you will need to see a separate dentist for your braces. If you need a recommendation for an orthodontist, speak with your general dentist. They will likely know a good orthodontist that they can refer you to.
CPAP
When most people think about the treatment of sleep apnea, they think about someone using a machine that involves that person wearing a mask over their face throughout the night. The machine that they are thinking of is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. This machine keeps the airway open during sleep—allowing patients to sleep throughout the night without waking up gasping for air. The problem that a lot of patients have with CPAP machines is how uncomfortable the mask can be, and how unnatural it can feel to wear throughout the night.
Lifestyle Changes
Ultimately, a lot of the issues that lead to sleep apnea are lifestyle choices. In order to not only treat the symptoms but also attempt to cure sleep apnea, it is important to make positive lifestyle choices that will improve your health. This includes eating healthy foods, getting exercise, and quitting drinking and smoking. Not only will you be able to sleep better when you make these lifestyle changes, but you will also likely live longer.
Surgery
Surgery isn’t ideal, but it is an option for the treatment of sleep apnea. Different surgeries can help to shrink excessive tissue, remove a patient’s tonsils, and widen breathing passageways. Surgery should be a last-case-scenario option. Before considering surgery, consider different lifestyle changes for the treatment of the root causes of sleep apnea.
Oral Appliances
An excellent option for the treatment of sleep apnea is the use of an oral appliance. Various oral appliances can be used to allow for a proper night’s sleep, while not being as cumbersome as a CPAP machine. Oral appliances essentially look like bite guards that are used to stop grinding of the teeth throughout the night. These appliances help to breathe properly throughout the night and to avoid snoring. In order to have an oral appliance created for your specific needs, you’ll want to speak with your dentist.