Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment: Oral Appliance
Snoring and sleep apnea are remarkably common problems that afflict a surprisingly large segment of the population. As many as 20 million Americans may suffer from sleep apnea, with 80-90% of them undiagnosed. According to results from the Wisconsin Cohort Sleep Study, 9% of women and 24% of men had sleep apnea, making it as common a health problem as diabetes in North America.
What is Sleep Apnea? What Are the Risks?
Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing pauses or stops briefly during sleep creating a lack of oxygenated blood for the body. Many people who snore also suffer from sleep apnea, although most don’t realize it. Apneas, which are the actual pauses when breathing stops, can last anywhere from 10 seconds to minutes at a time, and may occur 5 to 30 times per hour during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where an air passage frequently collapses or is blocked during sleep, and central sleep apnea, where the brain does not send the correct signals to breathe. Obstructive sleep apnea is more common and overweight and obese individuals who snore are at a higher risk of having OSA…
Sleep apnea is dangerous because of the symptoms. It can increase the risk of high blood pressure, insomnia, mood disorders, irregular heartbeat, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, obesity, and diabetes. It can also cause daytime sleepiness and lower awareness during everyday activities like driving, which can be dangerous to you and others.
Treatment for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
There are a number of options when it comes to treating obstructive sleep apnea. These include lifestyle changes, surgery, medication, CPAP, and dental alternatives, such as oral appliances.
- Sleep Position: In some cases, snoring and sleep apnea occur only when a person is sleeping in certain positions. Using a different pillow or sleeping arrangement can prevent these breathing cessations.
- Consistent Fitness Routine: Losing weight is often a solution for obstructive sleep apnea, as obese or overweight people are much more likely to suffer from the condition. Also, exercise improves energy levels, overall health, and quality of life.
- Medication: Various medications can be effective in opening the airways and preventing sleep apnea. These include topical nasal decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, thyroid medication, antidepressants, and diet medication.
- CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (or “CPAP”) is a mask that holds the airways open with air pressure. Although it’s generally considered an effective non-surgical option, CPAP can be cumbersome or uncomfortable for some users
- Surgery: In some extreme cases, surgery can be performed to widen the airway. This is not guaranteed to cure sleep apnea and does carry risks associated with surgery.
Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Oral appliances, or dental appliances, provide much more portability and comfort than the CPAP device. Oral appliance therapy for snoring and sleep apnea involves a dental appliance that fits in the mouth, holding the tongue and jaw forward and the palate up. The appliance is specially designed to keep the airway open and prevent obstruction during sleep. These appliances are custom designed based on the individual’s mouth and specially fitted to assist with an optimal treatment outcome.
Dental appliances have the highest levels of compliance when compared to other therapies and are reported to be very effective in treating mild to moderate sleep apnea. They are also effective for severe sleep apnea when used in conjunction with CPAP. In order to work, they must be properly fitted by a dentist who will ensure that the appliance molds to your mouth and provides maximum benefit. They have a higher compliance rate than CPAP devices because of their comfort and ease of transportation.
To learn more about how dental appliances can help alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms, contact a snoring and sleep apnea professional who can assist you with diagnosing and treating your disorder. A qualified professional will work with you to determine the severity of your condition and which treatment strategy is best for your circumstances.
About the Author
Mark Kleive is a Dentist in Minneapolis and provides Sleep Disorder Treatment at his clinic. After graduating with distinction from the University Of Minnesota School Of Dentistry in 1997, Dr. Kleive continues to teach select courses at his alma mater and also at the Pankey Institute, a prestigious post-graduate dental institution.
Misconception of oral appliance
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