Sleep Apnea Treatment

Is There a Sleep Apnea Overview?

Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that occurs when your breathing is frequently interrupted during sleep. This prevents your body from receiving an adequate amount of oxygen, causing you to feel fatigued and drowsy during the day. When left untreated, it may even lead to other serious complications, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. This sleep disorder can affect people of all ages, but it’s commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 40.

What Are Sleep Apnea Symptoms?

Choking or gasping for air during sleep is one of the most noticeable symptoms of sleep apnea. Other signs and symptoms include:

• Loud snoring
• Waking up with a headache
• Brief pauses in breathing during sleep
• Having a dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up
• Daytime sleepiness and fatigue

What Are Sleep Apnea Causes?

Your throat muscles are stiff during your waking hours, helping promote the flow of air into your lungs. If you have this sleeping disorder, the muscles in your throat can relax during sleep, obstructing airflow by narrowing your throat. These risk factors can also make you more likely to develop this condition:

• Obesity
• Male gender
• Alcohol use
• Family history of the disorder
• Large neck size (greater than 16 inches)

What Are the Common Sleep Apnea Treatment Options?

For most patients with this sleeping disorder, our dentists recommend a customized oral appliance. This mouthpiece is designed to bring your jaw forward while your sleeping, helping to keep your throat and airway open while you’re sleeping. You may also benefit from making small lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight and sleeping on your side rather than your back. Surgery is considered only after these other methods have been ineffective. If you think you have this sleeping disorder, get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment. Our dentists will evaluate your symptoms and determine if you’re a candidate for an oral appliance.

What Should I Know About Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea?

A sleep apnea mouthpiece works by maintaining the forward position of your jaw, which keeps your throat and airway open. The device looks quite similar to an orthodontic retainer or a sports mouth guard. It’s only worn during sleep and can help relieve snoring and pauses in breathing.

To ensure a positive treatment outcome, your device is custom-fit by your dentist. To do this, we’ll take an impression, or mold, of your teeth and send it to a dental laboratory to create a customized oral appliance. We’ll have you come back to our office once the device has been made, and your dentist will check for a proper fit and make any adjustments, if necessary. Your dentist will also provide instructions for cleaning your device and how to maintain it over time. Please contact our office for more information about treating sleep apnea in Frederick. Our dentist will listen to your symptoms and determine if you’re a candidate for an oral appliance.

What Is the Price of an Oral Appliance?

The price of a sleep apnea mouth guard can vary and is based on whether you have medical insurance and the specific device you receive. To learn more about the costs associated with an oral appliance, please call our office.

Are There Benefits to Oral Appliance Therapy Treatment (OAT)?

Oral appliance therapy treatment offers many benefits that can significantly improve your health and sleep quality. Many of our patients enjoy the ease of use associated with their oral appliance and find that it’s comfortable to wear while sleeping. The device is also easy to clean and take care of, and its small size is portable and convenient for traveling. Unlike surgery, oral appliance therapy is a non-invasive option that can eliminate snoring and improve breathing during sleep. For more information about how you can benefit from oral appliance therapy, get in touch with us to make an appointment.

Will My Oral Appliance Be Covered by Insurance?

Most dental insurance plans will cover some or all of the costs for your oral appliance. To find out more about the coverage for oral appliance therapy, please contact your insurance company directly.

Our goal is to help you improve your sleep quality and overall health by eliminating snoring and helping you breathe better while you’re sleeping. Make an appointment today and learn how you can benefit from an oral appliance for sleep apnea in Frederick.