You may be one of the approximately 18 million Americans that suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a serious condition that, if not diagnosed, may lead to very severe medical issues. If you are a loud snorer, are often sleepy during the day, suffer from fatigue or insomnia, then the cause may be mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
WHAT IS SLEEP APNEA?
Sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a common sleep disorder in which a person has one or more pauses in their breathing, or has shallow breaths while they sleep.
Breathing pauses can last from just a few seconds to minutes at a time. These episodes may occur 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing will then resume, sometimes with a choking sound or a loud snort.
Sleep apnea usually is a chronic and ongoing condition that disrupts your sleep and often moves you out of a deep sleep and into a light sleep. The result is an unrestful night, marked by potentially dangerous sleep and oxygen deprivation.
WHAT DOES DENISTRY HAVE TO DO WITH SLEEP APNEA?
Proper dental care can be a very effective tool in reducing the impact and severity of sleep apnea. A specially designed oral appliance, which insures that your airway remains open and unobstructed during your sleep, can be extremely beneficial in battling sleep apnea.
WHY USE AN ORAL APPLIANCE FOR SLEEP APNEA?
There are several benefits to using an oral appliance for sleep apnea including:
- Oral appliances are easy to use.
- Oral appliances are custom designed to insure their comfort and effectiveness.
- Patients find that oral appliances are transportable and easy to carry.
- Oral appliances work in concert with CPAP machines and can be an effective tool post-surgery.
HOW DOES AN ORAL APPLIANCE WORK FOR SLEEP APNEA?
A specially designed oral appliance will:
- Reposition your lower jawbone.
- Reposition your tongue to maintain an open airway.
- Stabilize and increase the muscularity of your tongue.
ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE DENTISTS:
Call Dr. Wright, DDS today! As a native Texan, Dr. Gregory Wright opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.
