If it’s mild to moderate sleep apnea, we can make a dental appliance that they can wear at night. Usually, it goes on the top and the bottom and it keeps your lower mandible pulled forward so that your soft palate can’t collapse over your airway. It keeps your airway open so that you can breathe better at night.
It’s important because it gives you oxygen. When you’re not breathing well at night, you’re depleting your body of oxygen and it’s also making your energy levels plummet. So, a lot of times once people have that relief and are getting enough oxygen and breathing well at night, and they don’t have those apneic episodes, they have more energy during the day and don’t feel tired.
Feel Better With Our Sleep Apnea Treatment
When your body doesn’t get the restful sleep it needs each night, it can wreak havoc on your life. From feeling exhausted to acting grouchy to falling asleep while sitting at a red light, there are many negative effects from not getting enough good quality sleep.
One of the most prevalent causes of these symptoms is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It occurs when your tongue and soft tissues in the back of your throat repeatedly relax and block your airway while sleeping. When this happens, you body will wake up long enough to take in more air, then you’ll drift back to sleep again. Usually you’re not even aware this is happening. You may snore too, as snoring is caused by air passing over those soft tissues.
A custom-fitted sleep appliance from Columbia Family Dentistry can help all that, however. Worn nightly, it will:
- Move your lower jaw slightly forward to help keep your airway open
- Help you get more restful sleep
- Stop or reduce your snoring (which your bed partner will appreciate)
- Work with less hassle than a CPAP
Since OSA has been linked to serious health concerns such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, depression, and diabetes, your treatment will also reduce your risk of developing these issues.
To get the help you need for your Columbia sleep apnea, call Columbia Family Dentistry today at 931-548-6161. You can also request an appointment online, or talk to us about your sleep issues at your next dental cleaning and exam.