Dental sleep medicine can help with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, which are two common sleep problems. Snoring is one of the primary symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, but not everyone who snores has it. However, snoring alone can cause problems for individuals and their sleep partners by interrupting sleep. While the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring, other treatment options exist.
Dental sleep medicine is dentistry that treats snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. It offers patients an alternative to CPAP machines. Dentists create customized mouth appliances that patients wear during sleep. These appliances support the jaw in a position that prevents the patient's airway from collapsing during sleep. This type of continuous jaw support can prevent snoring and help relieve sleep apnea, so patients rest better.
The customized mouth appliances dentists make for patients with snoring or sleep apnea issues resemble the custom mouth guards that athletes wear while playing sports. When not in use, the appliances fit into a case so that they are easy to take along during travel.
To make the mouth appliances, dentists perform a dental exam and may take X-rays. Technicians then create impressions of the patient's teeth. These impressions go to a laboratory where technicians use them to create an appliance designed to fit the patient's mouth exactly. When the dentist receives the completed appliance from the laboratory, the patient comes in for a fitting. The dentist may then make minor adjustments to the appliance and will teach the patient how to clean and care for it.
Patients who have mild or moderate sleep apnea may find they no longer need their CPAP machine during sleep once they start using their dental appliance. The portability and convenience of the appliance appeal to many patients, and they may find themselves more likely to comply with instructions for its use than with their CPAP machine.
CPAP machines consist of a mask that covers the mouth and nose and tubing connecting the mask to the machine itself, which is roughly the size of a shoebox. Patients must plug their CPAP machine into an electrical outlet for it to function.
By contrast, dental sleep appliances have no mask or tubing and fit inside the mouth, with no external parts. Because of the appliance's convenience and portability, many patients are more likely to use their dental appliance than a CPAP machine. Better treatment compliance may result in better relief from snoring and sleep apnea.
Snoring and sleep apnea can affect a person's sleep quality and quality of life. The sleeping partners of snorers and people with sleep apnea may find their own sleep quality affected as well. Dental sleep medicine helps people address snoring and sleep apnea in a way that is less obtrusive and inconvenient than a CPAP machine and can help improve the quality of life for these patients and their partners.
Request an appointment here: https://copdo.com or call Colorado Precision Dentistry at (303) 481-0565 for an appointment in our Highlands Ranch office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Sleep Medicine in Highlands Ranch, CO.
A family dentist serves as the front line of defense for oral health and preventive care. They can see patients from childhood all the way through their lives, allowing for a level of continued care, attention, and personal knowledge that is unmatched among other types of dental offices. If you are considering what kind of…
A person’s smile comprises many parts, each contributing to the overall aesthetic, including teeth alignment, whiteness, smoothness, and shape, and a cosmetic dentist specializes in all these areas. They can help a patient improve their smile’s appearance so they can confidently show off their pearly whites to the world.However, many people do not realize that…
There are several treatment options available for patients with sleep apnea. For some, CPAP machines may be an ideal solution, although more patients are using dental appliances in place of their CPAP machines. The following is a review of available treatment options for sleep apnea and how to choose the one that works best. Two common…
Composite bonding is one of the many treatments that might be used as part of your smile makeover. The procedure is often used to fix cosmetic problems such as discolored, cracked or chipped teeth. Dental bonding involves applying composite resin to the affected tooth to restore or improve its appearance.Composite bonding is a versatile treatment…
