Sleep Apnea Dental Device - Help Now

Sleep Apnea Dental Device

If you have sleep apnea and have trouble using a CPAP, or a continuous positive airway pressure, machine while you sleep, you may be a good candidate for a sleep apnea dental device to treat your sleep apnea. Some people do not even know they have sleep apnea unless they have someone in their life that is with them when they sleep and can tell them they have it.

To confirm this then you should get a referral from your doctor to have a sleep study. A sleep study will pinpoint just how many episodes of sleep apnea you actually have during the night, how long they last and figure out just how severe your condition is.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition in which a person stops breathing during sleep for a few seconds up to as long as a minute and upon resuming normal breathing snorts or snores loudly. Sleep apnea occurs many times during the night and can cause the person afflicted with this disorder to not get sufficient rest at night and can contribute to a type of chronic fatigue.

Chronic fatigue can cause you to not be as sharp mentally as you need to be during the day and at work, which can end up affecting your daily life in many negative ways. Decreased productivity at work can cause you to lose your job or inattentive driving can cause you to have an accident and injure yourself or someone else.

One way to combat the effects of sleep apnea is to wear a sleep apnea dental device. These devices mold to your mouth and hold your tongue and palate in place, keeping your airway open so you can breathe throughout the night and wake up rested and rejuvenated.

These dental devices are used mainly in the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea in patients not are not dealing with obesity who cannot use the CPAP machine at night due to claustrophobia or other forms of intolerance to the equipment and can reduce the severity of sleep apnea by up to 60%.

There are two main types of dental devices for the treatment of sleep apnea. The first is a tongue repositioning device and is custom fitted to the patient's lower jaw and works by raising the soft palate and keeping the tongue from falling back and blocking the patient's airway.

The second dental device is called a mandibular repositioning device which actually repositions the jaw creating much needed space behind the tongue therefore keeping the airway open, reducing the frequency of the sleep apnea and also greatly reduces snoring. You will need to be closely monitored by your dentist to maintain the fit of the device and make sure it is working properly.

Sleep apnea can occur up to 30 times or more per hour when you are sleeping and severe cases may require surgery as a corrective measure, especially in cases in which the patient is diagnosed with blockages in their nose or throat.

The dental devices available are very effective in the treatment of mild to moderate sleep apnea but the patient may complain of tooth pain, mouth or jaw soreness. Your dentist will tell you that these side effects should subside and you will get used to the sleep apnea dental device in a few weeks to a few months.

Maryjane Angelo

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment - Be Aware

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment consists of using a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, machine or fixing the obstruction with medication, dental devices, or surgery. If you suspect you have obstructive sleep apnea you should see your doctor as soon as possible so you may begin treatment.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects the way you breathe when you are sleeping. Not only is obstructive sleep apnea a serious condition it could be life- threatening. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which you actually stop breathing for any where from 10 to 60 seconds up to 30 times per hour every hour you are asleep.sleep apnea

Some of the symptoms or affects you may notice are feeling more tired when you wake up than when you went to sleep, being more tired during the day, frequent morning headaches, recent unexplained weight gain, inattentiveness, poor judgement and memory loss, mood swings and depression.

Your doctor should be able to make a correct diagnosis just by you relating these symptoms to them and then can order a sleep study to confirm their diagnosis and to get you started on an obstructive sleep apnea treatment regimen to reduce your risk for high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

During the sleep study you will be monitored for electrical activity of your brain, REM sleep, heart rate and blood oxygen levels. If it is confirmed that you do have obstructive sleep apnea you will be awakened and fitted with the CPAP machine which blows air into your nose and or mouth at a continuous rate to help keep your airway open. Once you go back to sleep the technician will adjust the flow until the best rate of airflow for you is determined.

After the sleep study, you may be required to purchase your CPAP machine for the time you need to use it or you may be able to rent one from a medical supply store. Any tubing you need for CPAP operation should be disposable and you can set up monthly delivery of supplies you need from the supply company. If it is determined that you need oxygen as a supplement to the CPAP then you can set up delivery of that, too, at the same time.

You may just need to wear an oral device, custom made and fitted by your dentist to help keep your tongue and soft palate from falling back and closing off your airway when you sleep. Keep in mind you should also limit the use of depressants like alcohol and sedatives which can make your condition worse.

Surgery may be required to remove the obstruction. You may be a candidate for surgery if you have a deviated septum or some other blockage that can safely be removed by a surgical procedure. Obviously, no surgery is completely safe and all precautions should be taken by you and your doctor before the surgery takes place. surgery should be considered only for the most severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea.

These are all options you have for obstructive sleep apnea treatment. It all depends on the severity of the apnea you are diagnosed with as to what treatment options you and your doctor  choose for you.

Maryjane Angelo