How Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) Helps Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Suffer from obstructive sleep apnea? Consider Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). Learn all about OAT and how it can treat sleep apnea.
Did you know that the average adult in America achieves around 6.5 hours of sleep? Yet, since the pandemic began over two years ago, even more Americans are reporting feeling more tired. Could America's sleep woes be more than simple restlessness?
Sleep apnea is a condition that plagues many people and is difficult to diagnose unless you watch for symptoms or have a mindful partner. What people might find most shocking is your local dentist can help treat sleep apnea.
While you may visit your dentist in Delaware, Ohio, for tooth bonding procedures or dental cleaning, some specialize in treatments that can improve sleep apnea. If you are still interested, continue reading and learn more about how Oral Appliance Therapy could be the solution to your sleep troubles!
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is an airway condition that causes you to stop breathing for short periods while asleep. When you visit a sleep specialist, they will explain that there are two types of this disorder:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Central sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs from a physical airway blockage. Central sleep apnea is more complex, dealing with neurological issues stemming from your nervous system.
During obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles near the back of your throat relax to the point of causing an airway blockage. It can include your tongue or soft palate. When the person breathes again, it is typically a loud breath, snort, or complete gasp that awakens them.
Without treatment, you could be more at risk for heart disease, depression, lethargy, headaches, heartburn, and death. Sleep apnea can also cause dry mouth or sore throat. By itself, dry mouth increases your risk of oral health issues like plaque or tooth decay.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Usually, sleep apnea is diagnosed during a sleep study. If you have never had a sleep study, our office partners with sleep physicians that can make the testing process simple. The gold-standard treatment for sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP machine uses pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep.
Unfortunately, it is cumbersome and uncomfortable for many patients. Other treatments could include:
- Lifestyle changes (e.g., stop smoking, lose excess weight, limit alcohol consumption)
- Surgery
- Medication
- Oral appliances
Recently, there have been other less invasive or complicated treatments that can help manage your sleep apnea. Research shows that the efficacy of treating mild and moderate sleep apnea with an oral appliance is the same as treatment with a CPAP machine. The best part is your family dentist is the medical professional who can help you get started with these advanced dentistry treatments.
What Is Oral Appliance Therapy?
If you deal with sleep apnea and live near Delaware, Ohio, you should ask your local dentist about Oral Appliance Therapy. Oral Appliance Therapy consists of the use of a retainer-like appliance to move the lower jaw forward thereby opening the airway during sleep.
There are many different types of oral appliances that are used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and your Delaware, Ohio dentist is specially trained to select the best one to meet your needs.
If you have other oral conditions, such as TMJ issues, bruxism, or snoring, we can also build in treatment for those conditions into the mandibular advancement device.
How Does Family Dentistry Help With Sleep Apnea?
Your family dentistry clinic in Delaware, Ohio, can specialize in more than dental bonding or restorative dentistry techniques. Sleep apnea is closely linked to TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) disorders.
As your airway collapses, your jaw shifts forward to accommodate. The constant posterior to anterior jaw movements can irritate your TMJ, increasing stress and tension.
As your TMJ worsens, you will likely continue dealing with sleep apnea. Your family dentist can work with you on your sleep apnea treatment through several different methods, including:
- Oral devices
- TMJ treatments
In most instances, your medical insurance will cover treatment for Sleep Apnea, but you should always follow up regarding payments.
Bruxism and Botox
Botox for bruxism can reduce teeth grinding, teeth clenching, tension pain, headaches, and more.There are three simple steps regarding Botox treatments for TMJ disorders and bruxism:
- Initial assessment
- Botox injections
- Follow-up appointment
The injection site primarily depends on where your issues stem. It will be localized to your TMJ area, and you may need additional treatments after a few months. Since Botox only temporarily paralyzes muscles, you should plan on maintenance treatments every 3-4 months.
However, there are some situations where patients experience more immediate relief and require fewer long-term Botox treatments. Ultimately, Botox can reduce facial pain and improve your TMJ's mobility and function, reducing joint pain and bruxism.
Dental Care and Sleep
Oral health is directly linked to your sleep quality and ongoing health issues. Inadequate sleep or disrupted sleep can reduce life expectancy and lead to several health concerns.
While many sleep specialists might promote expensive treatments, there are several solutions that your family dentist clinic in Delaware, Ohio, can help with. By seeing a family dentist, you get the added benefit of using a dentist for all your oral care needs, from teeth bonding, dental cleanings, and improved sleep.
Solutions for Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that can silently take years off your life. Start listening to your partner or loved one and seek the help you need to solve your sleep apnea problems.
Instead of purchasing expensive equipment like a CPAP machine, Oral Appliance Therapy is a simple and cost-effective solution that makes a big difference at night. If you notice facial pain, headaches, and sleep apnea symptoms, you could have a TMJ disorder as well.
Worsening TMJ symptoms are a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea and can make it harder for you to sleep peacefully at night. Visit North Orange Family Dentistry today to get started!
Did you know that the average adult in America achieves around 6.5 hours of sleep? Yet, since the pandemic began over two years ago, even more Americans are reporting feeling more tired. Could America's sleep woes be more than simple restlessness?
Sleep apnea is a condition that plagues many people and is difficult to diagnose unless you watch for symptoms or have a mindful partner. What people might find most shocking is your local dentist can help treat sleep apnea.
While you may visit your dentist in Delaware, Ohio, for tooth bonding procedures or dental cleaning, some specialize in treatments that can improve sleep apnea. If you are still interested, continue reading and learn more about how Oral Appliance Therapy could be the solution to your sleep troubles!
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is an airway condition that causes you to stop breathing for short periods while asleep. When you visit a sleep specialist, they will explain that there are two types of this disorder:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Central sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common and occurs from a physical airway blockage. Central sleep apnea is more complex, dealing with neurological issues stemming from your nervous system.
During obstructive sleep apnea, the muscles near the back of your throat relax to the point of causing an airway blockage. It can include your tongue or soft palate. When the person breathes again, it is typically a loud breath, snort, or complete gasp that awakens them.
Without treatment, you could be more at risk for heart disease, depression, lethargy, headaches, heartburn, and death. Sleep apnea can also cause dry mouth or sore throat. By itself, dry mouth increases your risk of oral health issues like plaque or tooth decay.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Usually, sleep apnea is diagnosed during a sleep study. If you have never had a sleep study, our office partners with sleep physicians that can make the testing process simple. The gold-standard treatment for sleep apnea is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP machine uses pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep.
Unfortunately, it is cumbersome and uncomfortable for many patients. Other treatments could include:
- Lifestyle changes (e.g., stop smoking, lose excess weight, limit alcohol consumption)
- Surgery
- Medication
- Oral appliances
Recently, there have been other less invasive or complicated treatments that can help manage your sleep apnea. Research shows that the efficacy of treating mild and moderate sleep apnea with an oral appliance is the same as treatment with a CPAP machine. The best part is your family dentist is the medical professional who can help you get started with these advanced dentistry treatments.
What Is Oral Appliance Therapy?
If you deal with sleep apnea and live near Delaware, Ohio, you should ask your local dentist about Oral Appliance Therapy. Oral Appliance Therapy consists of the use of a retainer-like appliance to move the lower jaw forward thereby opening the airway during sleep.
There are many different types of oral appliances that are used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and your Delaware, Ohio dentist is specially trained to select the best one to meet your needs.
If you have other oral conditions, such as TMJ issues, bruxism, or snoring, we can also build in treatment for those conditions into the mandibular advancement device.
How Does Family Dentistry Help With Sleep Apnea?
Your family dentistry clinic in Delaware, Ohio, can specialize in more than dental bonding or restorative dentistry techniques. Sleep apnea is closely linked to TMJ (Temporomandibular joint dysfunction) disorders.
As your airway collapses, your jaw shifts forward to accommodate. The constant posterior to anterior jaw movements can irritate your TMJ, increasing stress and tension.
As your TMJ worsens, you will likely continue dealing with sleep apnea. Your family dentist can work with you on your sleep apnea treatment through several different methods, including:
- Oral devices
- TMJ treatments
In most instances, your medical insurance will cover treatment for Sleep Apnea, but you should always follow up regarding payments.
Bruxism and Botox
Botox for bruxism can reduce teeth grinding, teeth clenching, tension pain, headaches, and more.There are three simple steps regarding Botox treatments for TMJ disorders and bruxism:
- Initial assessment
- Botox injections
- Follow-up appointment
The injection site primarily depends on where your issues stem. It will be localized to your TMJ area, and you may need additional treatments after a few months. Since Botox only temporarily paralyzes muscles, you should plan on maintenance treatments every 3-4 months.
However, there are some situations where patients experience more immediate relief and require fewer long-term Botox treatments. Ultimately, Botox can reduce facial pain and improve your TMJ's mobility and function, reducing joint pain and bruxism.
Dental Care and Sleep
Oral health is directly linked to your sleep quality and ongoing health issues. Inadequate sleep or disrupted sleep can reduce life expectancy and lead to several health concerns.
While many sleep specialists might promote expensive treatments, there are several solutions that your family dentist clinic in Delaware, Ohio, can help with. By seeing a family dentist, you get the added benefit of using a dentist for all your oral care needs, from teeth bonding, dental cleanings, and improved sleep.
Solutions for Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that can silently take years off your life. Start listening to your partner or loved one and seek the help you need to solve your sleep apnea problems.
Instead of purchasing expensive equipment like a CPAP machine, Oral Appliance Therapy is a simple and cost-effective solution that makes a big difference at night. If you notice facial pain, headaches, and sleep apnea symptoms, you could have a TMJ disorder as well.
Worsening TMJ symptoms are a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea and can make it harder for you to sleep peacefully at night. Visit North Orange Family Dentistry today to get started!
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