How a General Dentist Can Help With Your Sleep Apnea Treatment

Sleep Apnea Portland, OR

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that can leave you feeling tired and sleepy during the day. The condition leads to breathing coming to a stop during sleep, forcing your brain to wake up to restore breathing momentarily. People with the condition can have hundreds of these interruptions during sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by your airway being obstructed during sleep, restricting the flow of air. Some of the issues that can lead to this include the tongue falling back into the airway, poor jaw positioning obstructing the airway, and abnormal tissue growths.

Sleep apnea might seem like a minor health issue, but that could not be further from the truth. It has been linked to serious physical and mental issues like depression, strokes, and hypertension. The condition significantly limits the afflicted’s quality of life and their academic, athletic, and work performance.

Getting sleep apnea treatment from a general dentist

Getting treatment for sleep apnea starts with a proper diagnosis being made. The patient’s airways, tongue, jaw, and teeth are carefully examined, looking for signs they might be obstructing the person’s breathing.

3D dental cone x-rays can also be used to search for signs of sleep apnea. Once the patient has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, a dentist might recommend an oral appliance to help open up their airway during sleep.

Oral appliances are customized devices that sometimes look like mouthguards. They are made from an impression of the patient’s teeth, so they fit snuggly. They can be an effective alternative to continuous positive airflow pressure (CPAP) therapy for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

These devices are worn during sleep, and they help to keep the airway open. Wearing an oral appliance also helps to protect teeth against the effects of teeth grinding. The most common oral appliance used to address sleep apnea works by moving the wearer’s lower jaw forward and opening up their airway. Others work by preventing the tongue or other tissues from restricting the flow of air through the airways.

Some of the oral appliances a dentist can use to alleviate the effects of sleep apnea include:

1. Mandibular advancement device

These are the most commonly used appliance for sleep apnea, and it works by repositioning the patient’s jaw. It looks similar to a mouth guard worn during contact sports, and it snaps onto the lower and upper dental arches the same way.

Mandibular advancement devices come with metal hinges that push the lower jaw forward. Top-end devices allow patients – or their dentist – to control how much the device pushes the jaw forward.

2. Tongue retaining device

As the name implies, these devices work as splints and hold on to the wearer’s tongue, preventing it from falling back into the airway.

Restore quality sleep

An oral appliance can help you to alleviate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea, restoring your quality of life. Give us a call or visit our Portland clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.cosmeticdentistoffice.com or call Rachel Cole DDS PC at (503) 248-1114 for an appointment in our Portland office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Sleep Apnea in Portland, OR.

Recent Posts

A Family Dentist Discusses Oral Appliances For Sleep Apnea

Custom-made oral appliances provided by a general dentist have been shown to work effectively for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the use of these oral pieces to improve snoring and sleep quality can also improve general wellbeing. The dentist will examine the patient, take…

How A General Dentist Treats Sleep Apnea

An estimated 22 million Americans have sleep apnea, and well over half of individuals with obstructive sleep apnea have a moderate to severe case. A general dentist studies and understands why sleep apnea occurs and can effectively treat it with oral appliances and other treatment methods. Many do not know whom to visit when sleep apnea…

Reasons To Treat Sleep Apnea With A Dental Oral Appliance

Wondering how to treat your sleep apnea? This sleep disorder causes you to stop breathing during the night, which is caused by either your tongue or excess tissues blocking the back of your throat. Common signs associated with this condition include snoring, headaches, a dry throat, grinding or clenching teeth, mood swings, feeling tired and…

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect The Brain?

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, approximately 25 million Americans have some form of obstructive sleep apnea, which is a chronic disease that involves frequent pauses in a person's breathing during sleep. Most health warnings about this condition focus on how it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, but apnea…

Recent Posts

General Dentistry Restoration Options To Repair A Damaged Tooth

General Dentistry Restoration Options To Repair A Damaged Tooth

General dentistry consists of a lot of routine oral health care, which also happens to include restoring teeth that are in bad shape due to damage. Common damage may include cracks, chips, or cavities, all of which can be addressed with the help of different dental restorations. Continue reading to find out what dental restoration…

Invisalign Is A Discreet Teeth Straightening Treatment

Invisalign Is A Discreet Teeth Straightening Treatment

Invisalign® clear aligners give you a discreet way to improve the alignment of your teeth. It involves using rigid, transparent plastic trays to push your teeth to a better alignment gradually. These aligner trays are virtually impossible to notice in the wearer’s mouth, allowing you to get teeth straightening treatments without having to explain what…