Sleep apnea can be a health condition that causes breathing problems while you rest. It has a substantial impact on the quality of your lifeand can be life-threatening if left untreated. Sleep apnea can be caused by obstruction of the airways when they the night. It could be caused by soft tissues, such as the tongue, that get in the way of the airways or the accumulation of fat.
How can dentists manage sleep apnea by using dental appliances
One of the most well-known treatments that are used to treat sleep apnea is through the use of oral devices. They are utilized to ensure that the patient’s airways remain open throughout sleep. The most popular oral devices used to treat sleep apnea are tongue-retaining devices, vestibular shields and the chin strips.
Certain of these devices, such as the tongue-retention device function by keeping the tongue of the patient in its correct position during sleep to ensure that it doesn’t restrict their airway. Other devices, such as the mandibular advancement device are designed to keep the jaw of the patient in the correct position during sleep to ensure that their airways remain open. The advantages in treating sleep apnea by using an oral appliance, instead of looking into other options for treatment such as the continuous positive pressure (CPAP) device include the following.
Dental appliances can be beneficial for sleep apnea
User-friendly: Many of the dental appliances that treat sleep apnea, are simple to use and are custom-made to fit the mouth of the patient. They are simple to operate light weight, and easy to transport and store. They are comfortable inside the mouth of the patient keeping their airways open, permitting them to sleep with no interruptions to breathing.
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Comfort: The dental devices that aid in keeping the airway of a patient open when they sleep are a breeze due to their customized fitting. The appliance is custom-made to suit the patient’s airway mouth, tongue and teeth.
Reduces the sound of snoring. Snoring sounds result from obstructions in the airway which is often the result of sleep apnea. The mouthpieces used to treat sleep apnea allow for the opening of airways and open up more. Certain devices, such as neck straps help keep the mouth of the patient shut which forces the patient to breathe through their nose. This helps reduce snoring noises in sleep.
Dental appliances that are non-surgical are not going to make permanent changes to the person’s teeth and doesn’t require any surgery. The surgical procedures for sleep apnea are usually considered as a last option.
It’s easy treatment of sleep apnea using dental appliances is simple as putting the device into the mouth and then going to sleep. The appliance needs to be cleaned at the end of each use to prevent the buildup of bacteria. Other options to manage sleep apnea, such as CPAP devices, must be set up prior to when they are used.
Better sleep: oral devices such as tongue retainers are demonstrated to be effective in treating people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Utilizing an oral appliance prior to getting ready for bed will provide instant relief for people suffering from the condition, resulting in more restful sleeping.