If you have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), then you’re likely exhausted and could be suffering from impacts on your overall health (and even your heart health). Fortunately, we can offer a comfortable treatment option, one that doesn’t even require the use of a CPAP machine. In today’s blog, your Celina, TX, dentist talks about oral appliance therapy.
The Dangers of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea means that as you rest, then soft tissues in your throat and the rear of your mouth become very relaxed and collapse, this collapse cutting off airflow. You stop breathing for a few seconds, enough to interrupt your sleep cycle, before you resume. While you may not know this happens, it leaves you more and more exhausted as the disorder remains untreated. Eventually, this could strain not only your immune system, but your heart health too. Warning signs include snoring, headaches, dry mouth, moodiness, trouble focusing on tasks at work or school, and waking up at night struggling to breathe or gasping for air.
The Downsides of CPAP
Often, people have treated this issue with the CPAP machine. Essentially, this involves wearing a mask over your nose and mouth, which is connected to a machine through a plastic hose. The machine pumps air through the hose and into the nose and mouth to keep you breathing without interruption. While effective, it is also loud and cumbersome, and could make sleeping comfortably difficult for you and your significant other. Which is why we’re glad to offer a solution with a comfortable and convenient oral appliance.
Our Oral Appliances
To begin, we will need to perform a complete airway assessment using our Rhino-meter and Pharyngo-meter, so we can assess airway obstruction and the extent of your sleep apnea. We could also provide a test you use at home from the comfort of your own bed, instead of a lab setting. If we discover an oral appliance is right for you, we will take detailed images and impressions with imaging technology.
The oral appliance will fit like a mouthguard and be worn as you sleep at night. The device helps reposition the jaw to keep airway passages open and clear, so you rest without interruption and feel relaxed and alert the next day. If you have any questions about how we treat a sleep disorder, or about the use of our custom oral appliances, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk To Your Celina, TX Dentist About Treating Poor Sleep
We want to help you avoid the impacts of untreated sleep apnea with a custom treatment option. If you would like to find out how to rest with ease once again, then contact your Celina, TX, dentist, Dr. Newton, by calling (214) 851-0130.
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