Snoring is a common occurrence while we sleep. For many of us, we can easily fix occasional snoring by adjusting our sleep positions. For others, however, sleep apnea isn’t so easily solved. Luckily, a simple general dentistry treatment can help patients address snoring for peaceful and refreshing sleep (read more about general dentistry treatments here).
Are you looking for comprehensive dentistry in Las Vegas, NV? Look no further than Miracle Dental. Our team of trusted experts is here to help you meet all of your general dentistry needs in one convenient location. Get started with our team today by calling (702) 456-0056.
In this post, our team defines sleep apnea and tells you how general dentistry treatments can help address the condition. You might be surprised how a simple solution can make a major impact on your overall health!
What is sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a remarkably common sleep condition that experts believe affects nearly 26% of adults. Common characteristics of the condition include:
- Snoring while asleep
- Waking up gasping for air
- Feeling increasingly tired during the day
- Trouble falling and staying asleep
- Chronic headaches, especially upon waking
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Trouble concentrating during the day
- Frequent mood swings
- Increasing irritability, stress, anxiety, or depression
What causes obstructive sleep apnea?
The word ‘apnea’ means a brief pause in breathing. The word ‘obstructive’ means that something is blocking a normally open passage. So, obstructive sleep apnea is the cessation of breathing due to a blocked airway.
But, how do our airways get blocked while we sleep? Well, the muscles in our mouths and throats become extremely relaxed while we slumber. And when these muscles are ultra-relaxed, they tend to shift and move on their own accord.
Oftentimes, this relaxed state allows oral structures (like the tongue) to block or narrow our airways. This forces the air that is leaving our lungs through a very small space, which creates turbulence. Snoring is the auditory representation of the turbulence caused by obstructed airways.
How can general dentistry treatments treat sleep apnea?
The key to treating obstructive sleep apnea is to keep the airways open while sleeping. Many patients can achieve this with continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines attached to their noses while they sleep.
Unfortunately, many patients struggle to sleep comfortably with CPAP machines attached to them. Luckily, there is a simple general dentistry treatment that patients can pursue instead of CPAP machines – customized oral appliances.
A skilled general dentist can create a personalized appliance to keep the tongue and jaw in a forward and open position while sleeping. The result is uninterrupted, peaceful sleep that leaves you feeling refreshed in the morning!
General Dentistry for Sleep Apnea in Las Vegas, NV
Sleep apnea is a common condition that deserves medical attention. Let our general dentistry center in Las Vegas, NV, help you get the simple (yet effective!) care that you need. Request your appointment online here anytime, or call us at (702) 456-0056 during office hours.
