A lot of people suffer from sleep apnea. It is a condition where people might find it difficult to breathe when they are sleeping. The breathing stops when the person is asleep, and the brain helps keep the person awake enough so that you can at least breathe properly.
Dental sleep medicine is available, which can help manage the symptoms of the condition better. There are also different methods to treat the condition, and each one of them is customizable to fulfill the needs of the individuals. Oral appliances are among the popular options that can help treat sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can be quite problematic as it may not let the person have a good amount of sleep, and the patient might wake up again and again during sleep. Sleep apnea also needs to be treated, as breathing issues can make it challenging to get healthy sleep. Usually, the condition is seen as a manageable disorder, and with the proper care, you can treat it. A dentist in downtown San Francisco can help you get the appropriate treatment done.
What is dental sleep medicine?
It is a field of dentistry that deals with obstructive sleep apnea. Professionals can diagnose and treat the condition as well. Common problems with sleep apnea include snoring and disruptive sleep patterns.
Using oral appliances, these symptoms can be managed and even treated. There are many specialists who work in dental sleep medicine. They have extensive training to treat the symptoms of sleep apnea.
What are the treatment methods for sleep apnea?
The use of oral appliance therapy is usually helpful in the treatment of sleep apnea. The appliances can differ depending on the unique needs of the individual. Among the common types are mandibular advancement devices and tongue-retaining devices.
When the person is about to go to sleep, that is when the appliance is put in the mouth. The goals for both appliances are quite similar as they both work to prevent the airway from getting blocked or obstructed. Let us discuss the common types briefly here:
● Tongue retaining device:
As compared to mandibular advancement devices, they are not used as frequently. Furthermore, they look like pacifiers, except that they also have a hole in the center where the tongue needs to be placed.
For the time the patient is sleeping, their tongue needs to remain in that hole throughout the nighttime. This is going to let the airflow throughout the back of your throat.
● Mandibular advancement devices:
As far as dental sleep medicine is concerned, these devices are used more often; these appliances can be customized to address the unique needs of the patient. In appearance, they look like mouthguards, which are usually used in sports events.
Since there are upper and lower pieces, they can fit over each arch present. There are hinges as well that help in keeping the lower jaw in the correct position. The airway also remains open because of the forward position. This is also going to help prevent any hindrances.
One thing to keep in mind is that not everyone who snores is going to have sleep apnea. Even if a person has a habit of snoring, that can be quite problematic for people and for their partners.
What are the types of sleep apnea?
When it comes to types, there can be three of them; the names are given below:
- Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Central Sleep Apnea
All of them differ to some extent, and the last one is also called complex sleep apnea.
Wrapping Up!
Get in touch with a professional to get your sleep disorder treated. Professionals have the required knowledge and expertise to look into your problem and provide a solution accordingly. The sooner you contact a dentist, the better for you. Oral appliances will be made as per your needs to ensure that you remain comfortable.