Sleep Apnea Treatment

If so, you may have sleep apnea. The sleep disorder is potentially dangerous to your health and potentially dangerous to others as people with the more likely to have a vehicle accident. Work accidents are also common when people have undiagnosed OSA. If you would like to learn more about how we can reduce your snoring and help you feel more energized after sleeping, call our dental office.

Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Serious?

It is a serious sleep disorder where your breathing stops and starts five or more times an hour. Your airway collapses because the muscles under the tissue in your upper airway relax. When your body senses something is wrong, it will momentarily wake you up and you’ll start breathing once the muscles flex and resume normal function. OSA can have a significant impact on your sleep quality, how well you feel during the day, and your cardiovascular health which is why treatment for sleep apnea in Haverford is important.

If you stop breathing five to 15 times per hour, you have mild OSA. If you stop breathing 15 to 30 times per hour while asleep, you have moderate OSA. When you have severe OSA, you stop breathing 30 or more times every hour. One in every five adults in the United States has mild OSA and one in every 15 adults has moderate or severe OSA.

What Are the Most Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms?

Signs of OSA you should watch out for include:

• Chronic, load snoring
• Making choking noises while asleep
• Frequent morning headaches
• Unexplained fatigue
• Trouble concentrating

Why Do People Get OSA?

Sleep apnea causes and risk factors include:

• Obesity (BMI >30)
• Upper airway abnormalities
• Family history of OSA
• Large neck circumference
• Smoking
• Male gender

What Treatments Are Available for Sleep Apnea in Haverford?

For mild OSA, our dentist may suggest weight loss, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol before going to get and sleeping on your side. Dental appliances offer another effective treatment option for mild or moderate cases. For individuals with a severe OSA diagnosis, surgery may be necessary. Surgery isn’t a common treatment; OSA can cause anesthesia complications. To learn more about an oral appliance for sleep apnea in Haverford, call us and request an appointment. Our dentist will determine if an oral appliance will help you get a full night’s sleep without waking up gasping for air.

Surgery or lifestyle changes are not the only way to cure OSA. Our dentist will recommend appropriate changes along with your oral appliance. Once you start getting better sleep, you will have more energy and weight loss is easier.

Oral Appliances

Is an Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea Effective?

A mandibular repositioning device, or an oral appliance, is a tailor-made, adjustable device which dentists provide to their patients diagnosed with OSA. The appliance keeps the lower jaw in the forward position while you sleep. This gives you more space behind your tongue, making it easier to breathe. You are also less likely to snore. Typically, a sleep apnea mouthpiece is effective for patients with mild or moderate OSA, but patients with severe OSA can wear an oral appliance and use a CPAP machine if necessary.

Is a Sleep Apnea Mouth Guard Costly?

We calculate your cost by the type of device which is right for your needs and your medical insurance coverage for OSA.

What Are the Advantages of Choosing Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) offers many advantages to individuals newly diagnosed with mild-to-moderate OSA and to people who use a CPAP machine but find it complex, too noisy, or prefer not to wear a mask. Oral appliances are very easy to care for compared to a CPAP machine and they are much more portable. You can slip one in your pocket, whereas you would have to pack the machine, hose and mask to use your CPAP machine while traveling. If you are a good candidate for oral appliance therapy, call our office and request an appointment.

Which Type of Insurance Covers Oral Appliance Therapy?

OSA is a medical condition so health insurance would likely cover oral appliance therapy even though our dentist is furnishing the oral appliance. If you’re concerned about coverage, contact your health insurance provider for more information.