If you have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), then you are likely ready to begin treatment with a highly trained, experienced Owasso, Oklahoma sleep apnea dentist. If you think you have sleep apnea but have not been officially diagnosed, you’ll have to undergo a sleep study to ascertain your sleep apnea diagnosis. While sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can wreak havoc on your health, sleep apnea treatments are very effective, and most people with sleep apnea respond very well to treatment.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Before getting into the meat of sleep apnea treatment in Owasso, OK, let’s first take a look at what Obstructive Sleep Apnea is and how it affects those who have it. While there are three types of sleep apnea, OSA is, by far, the most common and is the one that sleep apnea dentists treat the most often.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes so relaxed while you sleep that the collapsed tissue blocks the airway. People with sleep apnea will choke and gasp for air because their airway is blocked, and these breathing stoppages may last for more than ten seconds and occur hundreds of times per night.
Most people with sleep apnea are not even aware of the fact that this going on, and it’s often your sleeping partner that calls your attention to your sleep problem. If you snore, you likely have sleep apnea, and if you have sleep apnea, you likely snore. Snoring is the sound produced when air is forced through the collapsed tissue in the blocked airway.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
Most people have heard of CPAP, which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and involves wearing a mask with a hose attached to a machine to keep your airway open and your breathing smooth throughout the night. While CPAP has always been the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, it’s not for everyone due to its bulky nature, lack of mobility, and overall discomfort.
Innovations in sleep apnea treatment have allowed Owasso, Oklahoma sleep apnea dentists to provide their patients choices of treatment that better suit their lifestyle. Since around 2010, Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) has proven hugely successful in helping treat sleep apnea, and it requires so little effort on the part of the sleep apnea sufferer.
According the Cleveland Clinic website, for patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, “dental appliances or oral mandibular advancement devices that prevent the tongue from blocking the throat and/or advance the lower jaw forward can be made.” Simply put, Oral Appliance Therapy helps keep the airway open during sleep without the need of the cumbersome CPAP machine.
Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy for OSA
The benefits are numerous:
- Your symptoms of daytime sleepiness, fatigue, moodiness, and memory and concentration problems will improve
- OAT is perfect for those who cannot tolerate CPAP
- You can take your oral appliance anywhere you travel
- Your oral appliance is easy to clean
- It’s quiet and requires no electricity
Your oral appliance will be custom made for you based on impressions taken of your teeth. It will take some getting used to, but the pain and discomfort you feel should lessen fairly quickly. Any adjustments that may be necessary will be made, and your sleep apnea symptoms will gradually improve.
Untreated Sleep Apnea
If you’re on the fence regarding sleep apnea treatment, please know that sleep apnea really takes a toll on several systems of the human body when left untreated. Sleep apnea has been associated with:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Depression/anxiety
- Memory problems
- Concentration problems
- Cognitive issues
- Mood swings
- Obesity
You deserve a great night’s sleep on a regular basis. Everyone knows how amazing it feels to wake feeling rested and rejuvenated. Why put off great quality sleep another day?
Learn More About Sleep Apnea Treatment in Owasso, Oklahoma
Dr. Heng Lim has devoted his career to learning as much as possible to help his patients conquer sleep apnea and enjoy the quality of life they deserve. By treating the whole person, Dr. Heng Lim at Owasso Smiles, stands ready to answer your questions, perform a comprehensive evaluation, and devise a treatment plan that will change your life. Please call Owasso Smiles at (918) 274-3779, or fill out our online contact form to ask a question or schedule a new patient evaluation.
