How Do Sleep Apnea Dentists Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

A shortage of air going through to the lungs during sleep causes sleep apnea, defined as an episode lasting more than 10 seconds. This lack of oxygen causes a drop in blood oxygen saturation, resulting in oxygen deprivation of the brain and other physiological tissues, a condition known as Hypoxia. The brain instructs a micro waking and commands the body to reopen the airways to restore normal blood oxygen levels. The person briefly wakes up and begins breathing, generally loudly, before falling back to sleep. In many cases, the person has no recollection of these micro-awakenings the following day. Such conditions require treatment at a sleep apnea clinic.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

The pharynx muscles (the throat region below the mouth and nasal cavity) relax too much during sleep, obstructing the airway and causing Sleep Apnea episodes. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome occurs when there are more than 10-15 episodes of Sleep Apnea in an hour of sleep. Because the body’s systems have not had enough time to replenish overnight, this syndrome divides a night’s sleep into hundreds of small fragmented mini rest periods, leaving the person weary. The lack of oxygen impacts a person’s metabolism, so someone with Obstructive Sleep Apnea wakes up exhausted, angry, and generally with a headache. In such a case, visit sleep apnea clinic 77019 today.

What Is The Best Treatment For Sleep Apnea?

The gold standard for treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea is CPAP therapy, which involves wearing a CPAP mask during sleep. Approximately 50% of patients do not like CPAP therapy for an extended period due to the intrusive nature of the CPAP mask. Furthermore, CPAP therapy is not recommended for mild and moderate forms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome. So, what is the recommended treatment for this?

The gold standard in treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea is CPAP therapy, which entails sleeping with a CPAP mask. Due to the intrusive nature of the CPAP mask, approximately 50% of patients do not like CPAP therapy for a lengthy period. Furthermore, for mild and moderate cases of Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome, CPAP therapy is not suggested. So, what does the sleep apnea clinic Houston recommends in such a case?

Sleep Apnea Appliances

Dentists at sleep apnea clinics in midtown tx that specialize in sleep apnea can assist in the treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea appliances, which can be used in conjunction with CPAP therapy for more effective outcomes, can assist dentists in treating mild and moderate cases of Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome. The dental devices are simple to use, small in size, effective, and inexpensive. The primary purpose of these devices is to maintain airways open and prevent obstructive sleep apnea episodes from occurring.

A dentist or orthodontist can fit three types of nighttime dental devices:

1) Tongue-Retaining Apparatuses (TRD). These devices keep the tongue in place to keep the airways open.

2) OPA Apparatus (Oral Pressure Appliance): These devices raise the soft palate (the tissue on the back roof of the mouth).  It helps hold the tongue in a specific position to fix sleeping disorders.

Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS) or Mandibular Advancement Devices (MAD) are three types of mandibular advancement devices (MAD)

Dentists use these oral devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Their purpose is to keep the lower jaw in a forward position during sleep, allowing proper ventilation to the lungs and preventing lower jaw displacement. As a result, Dentists are able to restore airflow and obstructive sleep apnea episodes are no longer present.