Dental sleep medicine can help with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, which are two common sleep problems. Snoring is one of the primary symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has it. However, snoring alone can cause problems for individuals and their sleep partners by interrupting sleep. While the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, other treatment options exist.
Dental sleep medicine is dentistry that treats snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. It offers patients an alternative to CPAP machines. Dentists create customized mouth appliances that patients wear during sleep. These appliances support the jaw in a position that prevents the patient's airway from collapsing during sleep. This type of continuous jaw support can prevent snoring and help relieve sleep apnea, so patients rest better.
The customized mouth appliances dentists make for patients with snoring or sleep apnea issues resemble the custom mouth guards that athletes wear while playing sports. When not in use, the appliances fit into a case so that they are easy to take along during travel.
To make the mouth appliances, dentists perform a dental exam and may take X-rays. Technicians then create impressions of the patient's teeth. These impressions go to a laboratory where technicians use them to create an appliance designed to fit the patient's mouth exactly. When the dentist receives the completed appliance from the laboratory, the patient comes in for a fitting. The dentist may then make minor adjustments to the appliance and will teach the patient how to clean and care for it.
Patients who have mild or moderate sleep apnea may find they no longer need their CPAP machine during sleep once they start using their dental appliance. The portability and convenience of the appliance appeal to many patients, and they may find themselves more likely to comply with instructions for its use than with their CPAP machine.
CPAP machines consist of a mask that covers the mouth and nose and tubing connecting the mask to the machine itself, which is roughly the size of a shoebox. Patients must plug their CPAP machine into an electrical outlet for it to function.
By contrast, dental sleep appliances have no mask or tubing and fit inside the mouth, with no external parts. Because of the appliance's convenience and portability, many patients are more likely to use their dental appliance than a CPAP machine. Better treatment compliance may result in better relief from snoring and sleep apnea.
Snoring and sleep apnea can affect a person's sleep quality and quality of life. The sleeping partners of snorers and people with sleep apnea may find their own sleep quality affected as well. Dental sleep medicine helps people address snoring and sleep apnea in a way that is less obtrusive and inconvenient than a CPAP machine and can help improve the quality of life for these patients and their partners.
Request an appointment here: https://alamedadentalaurora.com or call Alameda Dental at (303) 343-7072 for an appointment in our Aurora office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Sleep Medicine in Aurora, CO.
Gum disease affects more than half of all adults in the United States, according to the International Journal of Health Sciences, and there are different forms of the condition. Gum disease is prevalent and one of the major causes of tooth loss. Therefore, it helps to understand the various stages of gum disease and its…
Dental implants are one of the options that you get to explore if you are looking to replace missing teeth. These are metal rods or screws placed in the jaw to replace teeth roots, and implants are fitted with restorations like bridges, dentures, and crowns to replace teeth.The ideal candidate for dental implants is healthy…
There is no need to panic if you have just found out you have a cavity; the most common treatment approach is to undergo a dental filling procedure. Dental fillings materials can be made from resin, ionomers, gold, amalgam, or ceramics and are used to replace decaying tooth material during the filling process.Although it may…
Learning about your sleep apnea treatment is your next step after being diagnosed with this fairly common sleeping condition. According to Hopkins Medicine, it’s important to treat sleep apnea, because it can have long-term consequences for your health. Ready to find out more about why treating this condition is so important to your overall health?Want…
Gum disease affects more than half of all adults in the United States, according to the International Journal of Health Sciences, and there are different forms of the condition. Gum disease is prevalent and one of the major causes of tooth loss. Therefore, it helps to understand the various stages of gum disease and its…
Dental implants are one of the options that you get to explore if you are looking to replace missing teeth. These are metal rods or screws placed in the jaw to replace teeth roots, and implants are fitted with restorations like bridges, dentures, and crowns to replace teeth.The ideal candidate for dental implants is healthy…