December 9, 2024
Do you or a loved one snore at night? Do you ever wake up feeling breathless? Are you perpetually tired? These are common symptoms of sleep apnea, a condition that is characterized by loud snoring and interruptions to your breathing when you’re asleep.
What should you do if you experience these or other symptoms of sleep apnea? Make an appointment to see your dentist. While sleep specialists are available to diagnose and treat sleep disorders, going to your dentist is a much simpler option. Here’s how sleep dentistry can change your dental care experience.
What is Sleep Dentistry?
Sleep dentistry refers to diagnosis and treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when your airway is partially obstructed. As you breathe in and out, the air moves over your tongue and throat tissues, causing vibrations. Your tongue may slip further back toward your throat to completely obstruct your airway, resulting in sleep apnea. When this occurs you may go for a few seconds to a few minutes without breathing, then wake up due to the lack of oxygen. You may experience 30 or more interruptions to your breathing in a single hour, preventing you from reaching a state of deep, quality sleep.Benefits of Seeing Your Dentist For Treatment
When you discuss your sleep apnea symptoms with your dentist and an evaluation is performed, then a diagnosis can be reached. Dentists are trained to recognize the signs of sleep apnea and provide treatment. Dental treatment for sleep apnea involves the use of an oral appliance, sometimes called a snore guard. The purpose of this mouthpiece is to hold your jaw in a forward position, which prevents your tongue from sliding back toward your throat. It is custom made to fit your mouth for ultimate comfort. The process of diagnosis and treatment at the dental office is much simpler and more affordable than going to a sleep specialist. You don’t have to undergo a sleep study or spend the night in a sleep clinic. You simply talk about your symptoms with your dentist who will make a recommendation for treatment.Snoring Mouthpiece vs CPAP
One of the most common treatments for sleep apnea is a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. It consists of a mask that covers the mouth and nose, or just the nose. A tube connects the mask to a machine that delivers a constant flow of air into your airway to keep it open while you sleep. While a CPAP machine is an effective treatment option for sleep apnea, some prefer a snoring mouthpiece. A snoring mouthpiece has the following benefits over a CPAP:- Compact. An oral appliance is compact and fits in a small case for ease when traveling. It can be stored in your luggage or carry-on for flights.
- Comfortable. Many patients find it more comfortable to wear something in their mouth than over their face. Oral appliances are custom made to fit your mouth.
- Quiet. An oral appliance doesn’t make any sound, so there is no disturbance to yourself or others with whom you are sharing sleeping space.