Roseville Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea
One of our goals at Pleasant Pointe Dental is to provide the most conservative treatment possible in every situation. Oral appliances offer simple, non-invasive treatment for a variety of conditions. Regardless of the application, every appliance we prescribe is custom-crafted just for you.
Whether we're treating nighttime sleep grinding, a diagnosed case of obstructive sleep apnea, bite problems, or other jaw joint disorders, appliance therapy may be a valuable complement to your treatment. Dr. Nina Aujla uses a variety of innovative designs depending on treatment goals and your preferences.
Sleep Apnea
We're concerned about the overall health of our patients, including sleep health. Many people suffer needlessly from disruptive sleep disorders that keep them from getting enough oxygen at night. The risk of a heart attack is 23 times more likely than average with a sleep disorder, and 92% of stroke victims live unknowingly with apnea before having a stroke.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth are the hardest substance in our bodies and can withstand a tremendous amount of force. But damage can occur, especially when grinding forces start to wear it away. A habit of nighttime clenching or grinding will harm teeth, muscles, and jaw joints over time. Protecting against abrasive forces is critical.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
While sufferers may be unaware that there's even a problem, sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing is obstructed during sleep. In fact, those with sleep apnea will frequently stop breathing completely during sleep, sometimes on the order of hundreds of times per night.
There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed. The most common is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the upper airway is partially or completely blocked by the tongue and soft palate as it rests on the back of the throat during sleep. That's when the chest and diaphragm attempt to clear the path -- which usually results in an audible gasp as the airways are forced open.
Unfortunately, sleep apnea interferes with normal sleeping patterns and can cause heart rhythm problems, in addition to restricting the flow of oxygen throughout the body. Unlike obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea means that the brain doesn't send the right signals for breathing during sleep. Mixed sleep apnea is a combination of central and obstructive sleep apnea.
Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea
Patients that have mild to moderate sleep apnea may benefit from oral appliances to treat sleep apnea from our Roseville-based practice. These dental sleep apnea devices prevent the tongue from falling back and blocking air passageways during sleep by pushing the lower jaw forward.
To obtain your own oral appliance for sleep apnea in Roseville, simply bring us a referral from your doctor for an evaluation. After an impression of your teeth have been made, you'll be called back for a fitting and any adjustments, if needed. After a quick run-through of how to use and clean the appliance, you'll return home and use the oral appliance when you sleep. Further sleep tests may be recommended to see how the appliance is working out.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Who?
Affecting about a quarter of all men and almost 10 percent of women, obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that reaches just about everyone. It's most common with overweight people and those over the age of 40, but even babies and children can suffer from sleep apnea. Indicators include being overweight, a large neck, nasal obstructions, enlarged tonsils and overbites.
Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include snoring, fatigue or sleepiness during the day, restlessness at night, sudden awakenings that may be accompanied by gasping or choking, dry mouth after waking, trouble concentrating, night sweats and headaches. For children, difficulty or sluggishness at school, mouth breathing, unusual sleeping positions such as sleeping on the hands and knees, as well as bedwetting are all common symptoms.
Why Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
While most people may associate sleep apnea with snoring, it's actually a serious medical disorder. Those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea are at higher risk for stroke, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes and heart attacks. During the day, sufferers may also risk job impairment and accidents at work or problems at school.
That's why it's important to have an appropriate oral appliance made at our Roseville practice, especially if you're also prone to teeth grinding at night. Oral appliances can prevent unwanted movement in the mouth during sleep, which can also help you avoid damage to your smile.
For those that have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, it's important to contact a dentist as soon as possible so that you can get your disorder under control with the right oral appliance.