Custom crafted oral appliances alleviate obstructive sleep apnea by gently shifting the jaw forward. This slight adjustment in positioning places pressure on the throat muscles causing them to tighten and keep the airway clear. Oral appliances are valid treatment options for patients suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea and those who are chronic snorers.
Millions of Americans get up each morning feeling as if they never slept the night before. What might seem like hours of sleep for one person might only feel like minutes to someone who suffers from sleep apnea. At Smiles by Martin, we not only want to help you get the sleep you need and deserve, but we want to help you understand more about sleep apnea in Grapevine and what we can do to help treat this common sleep disorder. Read through this list of common sleep apnea FAQs, and if by the time you finish the page you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact our dental office!
Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea may not realize they have it for many years. Why? It’s because some of the primary symptoms occur at night. If you don’t have a partner who can tell you when you stop breathing or if you snore, you can go years without realizing you have sleep apnea. The good news is that there are other ways to tell, such as:
The easy answer to this is yes, you can most certainly have sleep apnea and not snore. Although one of the primary signs is chronic snoring, those who don’t snore have what some doctors refer to as “silent apneic.” This can actually signal that there is a complete blockage, and if left untreated, it can pose serious health problems.
You can expect the average sleep study to take between 9 and 10 hours. When arriving for your sleep study, the technician will spend a short time discussing the actual procedure. Then, they will attach various monitors and equipment, which can take as long as 45 minutes. The actual amount of time you’ll be required to “sleep” is six hours, so a suitable amount of recording time can be obtained while you sleep.
Apart from the daily drowsiness you may feel, sleep apnea can result in serious health problems, some of which include:
When your breathing ceases, your brain must be triggered in order to alert your body to its need to breathe. If this happens hundreds of times each night, your blood pressure will rise each time, making you more susceptible to a heart attack or stroke.
Every dentist in Grapevine is different, but most dental offices offer the most common forms of treatment, which include a CPAP machine or oral appliance therapy. With a custom oral appliance, the device will shift your jaw forward, keeping your airway open throughout the night. It is a suitable option for anyone experiencing mild to moderate sleep apnea.