Sleep Apnea and Oral Appliances

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which a person repeatedly stops and starts breathing while sleeping. This can happen hundreds of times during a single night. Approximately 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, which is chronic snoring that leads to interrupted breathing during sleep. If the condition goes untreated, it can lead to a number of complications, such as high blood pressure, memory problems, weight gain, and depression. If you’ve tried lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, or altering your sleep position, but your snoring persists, contact your dentist to determine if an oral appliance could be an effective treatment option.

Sleep Apnea Explained

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that occurs when breathing is interrupted during sleep. This can occur if the tongue or soft tissues of the throat relax, which causes the airway to narrow or become blocked. The blockage can cause snoring and pauses in breathing throughout the night, which can result in oxygen deprivation and eventually lead to health complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and memory loss.

However, there are highly effective oral appliances that can treat obstructive sleep apnea by maintaining an open airway while you sleep. These custom-fit devices are usually worn at night to prevent the tongue from collapsing into the airway and to keep the jaw positioned so that the airway stays open. As a result, patients who use an oral appliance experience better sleep and less disruption of their sleep patterns.

Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea

At Dental Arts of Boston, we use the latest technological advancements to create custom oral appliances for our patients. We take impressions of your mouth to create an exact model of your teeth so that your custom oral appliance fits comfortably. From there, we create a custom oral device crafted out of high-quality materials so that you can finally experience restful nights and better overall health. 

Oral appliances come in a variety of styles and sizes. The dentist will analyze the position of your teeth, head, and neck to determine if an appliance will work for you. If it does, they will recommend a specific style that will best address your needs. Your dentist will also show you how to properly use and care for your appliance to prevent irritation and discomfort. In most cases, you should only need to wear it at night since it doesn’t prevent you from breathing through your mouth. However, some types of devices can be used both day and night.

To learn more about sleep apnea, contact Dental Arts of Boston at (617) 266-0441 today to book an appointment with Boston Dentist.