If you have sleep apnea, you are likely familiar with the unpleasant symptoms that often accompany the condition, such as loud snoring and feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep. While these symptoms are disruptive on their own, they can lead to more serious health conditions that could harm more than just your sleep. Continue reading as we detail how your dentist can help.
How Your Dentist Can Help
You may be surprised to know that of all the professionals you may see, a dentist is often the first one to recognize that you may have sleep apnea. Skilled dental professionals, such as Dr. Porter and Dr. Warren at our practice, can identify the signs of sleep apnea such as worn-down teeth, which may indicate bruxism, a common sign of sleep apnea. Other signs can include receding gums and a sudden uptick in cavities.
Our dentists may also examine the anatomy of your mouth to look for abnormalities. For example, the condition of your tongue, jaw, and throat may indicate that you suffer from sleep apnea. Porter Dental Health Clinic offers effective solutions for this condition. When you come in for a consultation, you will be asked to discuss the problems you have with snoring, breathing, and sleep, and our skilled dentists will take measurements of your mouth. This will be used to develop your treatment plan.
Oral Appliances
Porter Dental Health Clinic uses oral appliance therapy as a solution to treat obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the airway collapses either fully or partially in repeated episodes, sometimes occurring hundreds of times during the night. This results in disrupted, poor-quality sleep.
Oral appliances are an effective option for alleviating some of the symptoms related to sleep apnea. This tool is a type of mouthguard worn by the patient at night to keep the airway open. An impression of your teeth will be made for a personalized solution. After the device is created, it will be fitted onto your teeth and any necessary adjustments will be made.
The oral appliance supports the jaw and helps it remain in the optimal position for the airway to remain unobstructed, which may help you achieve more restful sleep, free from interruption and snoring.
Sleep Apnea Treatment at Portal Dental Health Clinic
Sleep apnea can greatly impact your sleep and your overall quality of life; however, you do not have to suffer from sleep apnea symptoms. Our team can help you achieve the deep, restorative sleep you desire with a custom solution. If you are interested in learning more about how our dentists can help with your sleep apnea, or want to know more about oral appliance therapy, schedule an appointment with our clinic by calling or simply fill out our web form today.
