Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment: Oral Appliance Therapy

Approximately 22 million Americans have sleep apnea. Worse, about 80% of moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea cases have not been diagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat collapse and block the airways. As a result, the oxygen supply to your brain becomes limited, prompting it to wake you up.
The waking period during an episode of sleep apnea often lasts less than one second so most people do not remember waking up. However, it prevents you from going into a deep sleep state which can result in daytime fatigue, headache, and irritability.
Fortunately, most people with obstructive sleep apnea can benefit from oral appliance therapy. At Distinctive Dentistry, we can offer you this treatment to alleviate the harmful symptoms of sleep apnea.

Types of Oral Appliances

Oral appliance therapy involves wearing an oral appliance that is similar to a night mouthguard or oral splint. Mandibular repositioning devices jut your lower jaw forward and downward so that your airway won’t close during the night.

These oral appliances are custom made at Distinctive Dentistry and offer a superior fit for your mouth. We do not recommend stock mouthguards as they are not effective in correcting sleep apnea.

Advantages of Oral Appliances

Oral appliances can offer you a variety of benefits. In case of mild or moderate sleep apnea, oral appliance can help reduce its symptoms. It can also reduce the risk of associated health problems like cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.

Oral appliances are a completely non-invasive, safe, and effective way to manage your sleep apnea symptoms. It can improve the quality of your sleep and result in better overall health.
If you have sleep apnea, we are here to help. Call us today to schedule an appointment with us.