Treatment Near YouWhat is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep due to physical blockages in the airway.
These pauses typically last around 10 seconds and are often followed by snorts, gasps, or choking sounds as the body struggles to breathe again.
During sleep, muscles throughout the body relax to help with repair and recovery. However, in some people, the muscles and soft tissues in the throat relax too much and collapse into the airway, blocking airflow and causing interrupted breathing.
When breathing stops, the brain briefly wakes to send signals to resume airflow, disrupting restful sleep.
Benefits of Oral Appliances
Oral appliances offer an effective, low-maintenance alternative to CPAP therapy for many patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
- Often more comfortable and easier to tolerate than CPAP masks
- No dry or irritated nasal passages caused by pressurized air
- Minimal equipment reduces risk of being dislodged during sleep
- Compact and travel-friendly compared to bulky CPAP machines
Book an Appointment
We invite you to book an appointment so we can better understand your dental concerns, explore treatment options, and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your best smile!
Potential Health Risks of Sleep Apnea
- High blood pressure
- Heart arrhythmias
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Increased risk of diabetes
While CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is the gold standard treatment for OSA, many patients find it challenging to tolerate due to mask discomfort, dry nasal passages, skin irritation, or trouble sleeping with the equipment.
For patients like these, an alternative to CPAP therapy may be recommended, and depending on the level of severity of their disorder, they may benefit from a substitute treatment.
Our Approach to Sleep Apnea
At Dawson Dental, we provide the tools to allow you to complete the sleep test in the comfort of your own home. The following points outline our 5-step approach to better sleep:
-
Diagnosis
Your home sleep study will be interpreted by a licensed medical doctor and they will provide us as well as your family physician with the results. Your doctor then reviews the sleep study results to determine a diagnosis.
Some possible diagnoses include snoring issues or light, moderate, to severe obstructive sleep apnea. Your family physician and dentist receive the diagnosis the same day to ensure they are well informed.
-
Evaluate
To determine if you are a candidate for the at-home program, we conduct a detailed screening process to evaluate any symptoms. The screening includes social and medical histories as well as an assessment of the head, neck, and mouth.
-
Follow Up
We are available to answer questions, help you manage changes, or seek a new course of treatment if needed.
-
Take-Home Sleep Study
After a thorough examination, you will complete a sleep study in the comfort of your home with a take-home machine that will record your sleep data. This will ensure that you are in a relaxing environment and sleep patterns are the same as every night.
-
Treatment
Each patient is different. Your diagnosis may include lifestyle changes, oral appliance therapy, or surgery. In conjunction with your doctor, we will help you determine the best treatment option for your individual needs. If oral appliance therapy is determined to be the best solution, a fully trained DDS at Dawson Dental can fabricate the take-home appliance for you.