Online Patient FormsDr. Shawn Douglas in our Smile Design Dentistry New Port Richey office offers treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with custom oral appliances. This convenient and comfortable alternative to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment is an appropriate option for most patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Many people do not realize that obstructive sleep apnea, most often characterized by chronic snoring, can have serious consequences on their health. Others realize they should seek treatment but have heard how uncomfortable CPAP treatment can be. Still others have started CPAP treatment to find they have difficulty with compliance.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible to minimize impact on your overall health and accidents that can accompany chronic fatigue. Although many practitioners use CPAP machines to treat sleep apnea, our Smile Design Dentistry dentists can often treat the condition with a small, comfortable oral appliance.
They symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) include loud snoring, chronic daytime fatigue, headaches, mood swings, forgetfulness and a chronic dry throat in the morning. If you are experiencing OSA, your throat, tongue and/or soft palate are relaxing and falling into your airway to block the flow of air into your windpipe. Your body automatically wakes you up to breath every time your airway is blocked so you are not able to stay in a deep sleep stage and never get a full night’s rest.
Research indicates that if you suffer from OSA, you have a significantly higher risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. The International Diabetes Federation states that 40% of people with obstructive sleep apnea also suffer from diabetes. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea treatment can greatly reduce these risks.
If you have not found success with a CPAP machine, or if you would like to begin with a more conservative option, our dentists can make you an oral splint. Your small, custom-made device will fit over your teeth to reposition your jaw. This repositioning will tighten your soft palate and prevent your tongue from dropping into your airway. Research indicates that both CPAP and custom jaw repositioning devices yield comparable results for patients with mild or moderate sleep apnea.
If you would like more information about obstructive sleep apnea treatment, we welcome you to call our New Port Richey office today.