How Effective Are Oral Appliances in Managing Sleep Apnea Symptoms?
If you have trouble sleeping at night due to disruptive breathing, you could be suffering from sleep apnea. This disorder is more common among older adults and people with weight problems and certain chronic issues. Common sleep apnea symptoms include loud snoring, disruptive breathing, and daytime fatigue. At Pines Dental Associates in Pembroke Pines, Florida, we treat obstructive sleep apnea symptoms using a dental guard through oral appliance therapy.
Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
OSA occurs when muscles supporting your jaw, tongue, and palate relax while you sleep, causing soft tissues to collapse and obstruct your airways, making breathing hard. Some people stop breathing temporarily multiple times during the night. You may also wake up suddenly gasping for air due to closed airways.
OSA can keep you from entering into deep sleep and getting the rest you need to function properly the next day. You may feel sleepy or fatigued during the day due to poor-quality sleep.
Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea Treatment
Oral appliance therapy uses custom-crafted dental guards for sleep apnea treatment. These include mandibular advancement devices (MADs), tongue retaining devices (TRDs), and oral hybrids. These devices reposition your jaw or tongue while you sleep to keep your airways open so you can breathe more freely. Sleep apnea dental guards are easy to use and adapt to, making them a more popular option than CPAP machines for managing OSA symptoms.
OSA dental guards are also:
- Compact and portable enough for traveling.
- Safe and convenient to use as they don’t require electricity. They also cause no side effects (CPAP machines can cause dry mouth, skin irritations, nasal congestion, and claustrophobic feelings).
- Easy to care for.
- Effective in managing mild to moderate sleep apnea symptoms.
- Non-invasive and minimally intrusive.
Request an Appointment
For many of our patients, oral appliance therapy is a lifesaver in helping them get the quality sleep they need.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Near Me
For help diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea, contact Dr. Milton Ruiz from Pines Dental Associates in Pembroke Pines, FL, at (954) 715-4660.
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