For people with sleep apnea that is undiagnosed or untreated, trying to get a full nights’ rest can be a literal nightmare. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that is characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep that can disrupt your natural sleep cycle. Where most patients with obstructive sleep apnea use a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (or CPAP) machine to regulate their breathing at night, you can also a find a simple and effective sleep apnea treatment at your dentist in Arlington Heights!
Oral Appliances For Sleep Apnea
Like CPAP machines, oral appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea are endorsed by the American Sleep Apnea Association. Unlike the machines, however, oral sleep apnea appliances are cheap, easy to use, and comfortable. These appliances work by adjusting your jaws to keep them open while you sleep, which helps to open up the airways and prevent obstruction. Schaumburg dental studio offers a variety of sleep apnea appliances, including:
TAP® 3 (Thornton Adjustable Positioner)
OASYS Appliance
Klearway Appliance
Herbst Telescopic Appliance
You can read more about your different options for sleep apnea appliances here.
Other Dental Treatment Options
Depending on the cause and severity of your sleep apnea, the treatment method best suited to your needs may vary. In general, we tend to advise against sleeping masks and breathing machines, but those are often very effective for patients with central apnea caused by the nervous system. We also advise patients to stop smoking and/or drinking, sleep on their side, lose extra weight, etc., if necessary.
For patients with more severe obstructive issues or looking for a more permanent solution, we can also perform minimally invasive surgery to adjust the jaw to reduce/prevent obstruction.
Read more about our sleep apnea treatments here.
