If you have sleep apnea, you might have heard the term dental sleep medicine. You might be wondering what this area of medicine focuses on and how it relates to you. If you do not want to have a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea, then a dentist may be right for you. Read on to learn how a dentist can treat your sleep apnea.
In dental sleep medicine, dentists focus on using oral appliances to treat breathing resulting from sleep disorders. This can include both obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Dentists and sleep physicians will work together to determine what the right treatment option will be for each patient. Oral appliances can include mandibular, or jaw, advancement devices. While this is the most common type, patients might also have devices that keep the tongue in place.
The quality of a patient’s sleep has a huge impact on their health, as well as that patient’s quality of life. When a patient has obstructive sleep apnea, the natural sleep cycle is disrupted. This can increase a patient’s risk of severe health issues, such as diabetes and heart attacks. Snoring is a warning sign that a patient potentially has sleep apnea. This is a sign that should not be ignored.
An oral appliance is used to keep a patient’s airway open during sleep. The device looks similar to a mouthguard and is customized by a dentist. It can keep the patient’s jaw forward while the patient sleeps, so it does not fall back and block the airway. The difference between a dental device and a CPAP machine is that with an oral device, the patient does not need to wear a mask over the mouth and nose. This can often be more comfortable for the patient.
The oral appliance is made out of a light material and is custom-fit to the patient’s mouth. The patient will make several visits to the dentist after getting an oral appliance. This will allow the dentist to make adjustments to the appliance as the patient uses it. This can allow the device to have the ideal result for the patient.
One of the benefits of an oral appliance over other treatment options is that it will fit into a patient’s lifestyle easier. This type of appliance is also quiet, comfortable, easy to use and convenient. It is beneficial for patients who do not always have access to electricity. This appliance also does not require patients to sleep in one position throughout the night.
Getting good sleep every night is very important for your health. It can help you have a good quality of life while avoiding health problems such as heart disease. Visiting a dentist will allow you to get treatment for sleep apnea. You can get an oral device that will be customized for your own mouth.
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