Do you have unsurmountable, unexplained fatigue? Do you get complaints of snoring loudly from your partner? If these symptoms resonate with you, you may have obstructive sleep apnea.
These symptoms may sound non-threatening, but the long-term consequences can be deadly! This blog post is for patients who may have sleep apnea in Fort Worth and need help understanding the best ways to treat it.
Understanding Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have pauses in breathing while you sleep. These pauses can last from just a few seconds all the way to minutes. This can be extremely dangerous to your oral and overall health. Your interruptions in breathing may repeat themselves dozens—even hundreds—of times at night. Your partner may here you snort, choke, or snore loudly when you begin to breathe again.
Treating Sleep Apnea with Oral Appliances
Oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. A custom-fit oral sleep appliance can improve your sleep, restore your restfulness, and revitalize your overall health before it’s too late.
Oral appliances are only while you sleep. They fit like an athletic mouthguard to support the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open airway while you sleep. This is especially effective for snoring. Here are some of the advantages of oral appliances:
- They’re non-invasive and comfortable to wear.
- They’re easy to wear and convenient for traveling.
- They are portable.
- They’re easy to care for.
- They’re quiet compared to other forms of treatment for sleep apnea treatment.
A Dentist Can Help Patients with Sleep Apnea
Your dentist can work closely with your physician to treat snoring and sleep apnea. At your very first visit, your dentist will talk to you about the benefits of treatment. You can also receive helpful information about additional side effects and even the cost of sleep apnea therapy.
Your dentist is the best person to create your custom oral appliance for sleep apnea treatment. Dentists specialize in the head, neck, and mouth. Dental professionals understand the inner and outer workings of your mouth. They use their extensive training and resources to create customized appliances by sending your information to a dental lab.
Once your oral appliance is ready, you will return to your dentist’s office for a fitting. If any adjustments need to be made, your dentist can make them during your visit to maximize the oral appliance’s effectiveness. Your dentist will also teach you how to properly care for your oral appliance and maintain it.
After your fitting, your dentist will schedule a follow-up appointment to verify your treatment’s success.
About Your Dentist
Dr. Renee Corbitt works hard to provide the best dental care possible for all of her patients. Since her patients range anywhere from 1 year old to 92 years old, Dr. Corbitt is familiar with a variety of dental concerns—including sleep apnea. If you would like to speak to Dr. Corbitt about your sleeping problems, feel free to contact our Fort Worth office.