How A Dentist Can Help With Sleep Apnea?

If you have sleep apnea, you know how disruptive it can be to your life. You may not get the sleep you need, leading to daytime fatigue and other health problems. Sleep apnea can also cause problems in your relationships or at work.

If these are issues you are dealing with, you should consider talking to a dentist about your sleep apnea. A dentist can help by providing you with a custom-made oral appliance to help keep your airway open while you sleep.

What Sleep Apnea Is and How It Affects People

Sleep apnea is a more severe condition than common snoring. Snoring stems from a partial blockage of the airway, whereas sleep apnea stems from a complete blockage of the airway while you sleep. This complete blockage of the airway causes a deprivation of oxygen, thereby leading to a number of health risks.

This can happen many times throughout the night, making it difficult for people to get a good night's sleep. As a result, people with sleep apnea may suffer from daytime fatigue, problems with concentration and memory, and moodiness. Sleep apnea can also lead to other health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. If you have sleep apnea, you must talk to your doctor or dentist about treatment options.

The Different Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three different types of sleep apnea, including:

Obstructive sleep apnea
Central sleep apnea
Mixed sleep apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much and block your airway. This can make it difficult for you to breathe, and it can cause you to snore loudly.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea is less common than obstructive sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea happens when your brain doesn't send the right signals to the muscles that control your breathing. As a result, you may stop breathing for short periods of time during sleep.

Mixed Sleep Apnea

Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. Mixed sleep apnea often starts as obstructive apneas and is treated as so.

How Dentists Can Help With Sleep Apnea

If you have sleep apnea, your dentist can work with you to find the best treatment option.

Palmetto Smiles of Beaufort uses the SomnoMed® sleep apnea treatment. It is one of the latest innovations in snoring treatments. This appliance is easy to use and can completely remedy your sleep apnea problems, getting you a good night's rest while preventing severe health conditions.

What this device does is advance your lower jaw forward and uses upper and lower plates with a unique patented fin-coupling mechanism to help open your airway. As your airway opens, obstructive sleep apnea can be relieved.

Your dentist can also help identify other factors contributing to your sleep apnea, such as an improper bite or teeth grinding. Treating these conditions can help improve your overall sleep quality and reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.

The Benefits of Getting Treatment For Sleep Apnea

In addition to improving your sleep quality, treating sleep apnea can also reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other severe health conditions. If you think you may have sleep apnea, talk to your dentist about treatment options. Getting the treatment you need can help you enjoy a better night's sleep and improve your overall health.

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can have many negative impacts on your health if left untreated. If you think you may have sleep apnea, call us at (834) 524-7645 or visit us at palmettosmilesofbeaufort.com to talk with a specialist about treatment options.