Sleep Apnea Treatment/Oral Appliance Fabrication

A good night's sleep is invaluable to your overall health and wellness. //

Sleep Apnea Treatment/Oral Appliance Fabrication

A good night's sleep is invaluable to your overall health and wellness. //

Sleep Apnea Treatment / Oral Appliance Fabrication

Sleep Apnea Treatment/Oral Appliance Fabrication

A good night’s sleep is invaluable to your overall health and wellness. Obstructive sleep apnea is often undiagnosed and can be life-threatening. A mouth guard oral appliance could be the solution you’re looking for.

An estimated 22 million adult Americans suffer from sleep apnea. 80% of moderate and severe cases go undiagnosed. Aside from having a serious impact on a person’s sleep, if left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular problems.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

There are three main types of sleep apnea:

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway usually by the tongue
  • Central Sleep Apnea is caused by a signal failure between the brain and the muscles that cause you to breath
  • Complex Sleep Apnea is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

When it comes to obstructive sleep apnea treatment, dentists primarily use a specialized and custom mouth guard. The oral appliance specifically addresses the obstructive part of their complex sleep apnea condition. For those with Central Sleep Apnea who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine, a custom mouth guard is a non-invasive option.

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when a person’s tongue and soft palate relax into the airway, stopping the person from breathing normally. When a person’s airway becomes blocked while they are asleep, their body will wake them up to restart their breathing. For people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, this process of waking can happen many times per night.

How Sleep Apnea Can Impact Whole-Body Wellness

Aside from causing serious interruptions to a person’s sleep, leading to memory loss, fatigue, and a weakened immune system, sleep apnea can also contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and other long-term health risks.

Sleep apnea impacts virtually every part of the body including the digestive system, increasing a person’s chance of having fatty liver disease, and worsening the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. Closely linked to obesity and high blood pressure, sleep apnea can also increase the strain on a person’s heart leading to abnormal rhythms that may increase their chance of a stroke.

All in all, what may seem like just a sleep condition can end up being detrimental to the whole body. It is important that people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea seek out effective treatments.

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RINALDI DENTAL ARTS
The Collection at Chevy Chase
5481 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 221
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

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