Sleep apnea has distressing symptoms such as choking while sleeping, loud snoring, and waking up exhausted. This condition may be causing discomfort for you and your loved ones. If you are experiencing these symptoms, visit our practice for expert diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea. After diagnosis, our specialists will recommend an oral appliance to treat your condition. In this article, we explain what sleep apnea is and how we treat it in our practice.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition caused by tissues in your throat or neck obstructing the passage of oxygen while you sleep. This obstruction causes you to stop breathing for approximately ten to fifteen seconds and leads to snoring. Our statistics show that majority of loud snores may be suffering from sleep apnea. This condition not only brings discomfort to those surrounding you, but also puts you at greater risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
How we treat it
When you visit our offices, our dentist will recommend an oral appliance to treat your sleeping condition. This oral appliance works by ensuring your airway is not obstructed as you sleep. This is achieved by placing the tongue and jaw in a forward position creating extra space at the back of your mouth and your throat for the passage of air.
The oral device we shall recommend is similar to an oral retainer or mouth guard. There exist several models of these oral appliances and we can also custom an oral appliance to fit your needs.
We will analyze the fit of your oral appliance in future visits and adjust it for maximum effect. Our specialists will also advise you on how to clean the device. Contact us today for solutions that will enable you to sleep soundly.