Our last blog focused on how we use a unique home sleep study to diagnose the presence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and decide whether you need treatment. Now, if you do, what’s next? To create an alternative to the cumbersome CPAP machine, your Olathe, KS, dentists may prescribe a custom-made oral appliance!
The Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea
First, let’s talk a little about OSA. The disorder occurs when the soft tissues that reside in the back of your mouth and in your throat become too relaxed over time. They then collapse and cut off airflow, so you stop breathing for brief periods of time. The brain wakes you to resume breathing, interrupting your sleep cycle. Even if you don’t remember “waking”, this happens hundreds of times a night and could lead to symptoms like daytime drowsiness, moodiness, trouble focusing on tasks, depression, dry mouth, headaches, snoring, and episodes of waking suddenly in the night struggling to breathe or gasping for breath. If you encounter one or more of these warning signs, then please let us know right away.
The Dangers of Ignoring These Symptoms
Without treatment, the constant sleep interruptions could begin to strain your immune system, leaving your vulnerable to more frequent illness. For some, this could also strain the cardiovascular system as well. The risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack then increase with time!
Creating and Using a Custom Appliance
To help ensure you breathe without interruption in the night, we need to keep your airways open. An oral appliance can do just that. We start by taking detailed impressions of your entire smile with digital technology, and using the information gathered to design an appliance that looks and fits much a mouthguard. Worn as you sleep, the appliance then repositions the jaw in a way to help prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so you breathe without issue. Over time, you start to experience a reduction in OSA-related symptoms, and feel more rested and alert during the day. If you have any questions about identifying and treating issues like chronic snoring or OSA, then please contact our team today. We would love to see you soon, so we can offer treatment before the holiday season becomes too hectic, and before your dental insurance benefits expire at the end of December.
Do You Have Questions About Sleep Dentistry?
We would like to help you enjoy a better night’s rest and feel more alert with our treatment options. For more information on our custom-made oral appliance treatments or to schedule a dental consultation, call E-Care Dentistry, PA in Olathe, KS, today at 913-210-1701. We also proudly serve patients from Overland Park, Lenexa, and all surrounding communities.