Quality sleep can be hard to come by depending on your lifestyle habits, career, and overall health. While these factors can inhibit your ability to get adequate rest, what you do in your sleep can also affect your bed partner. Loud, chronic snoring is one of the most common symptoms of a more serious condition known as sleep apnea, but is there anything that can be done to curb it? Keep reading to discover how a custom-made oral appliance might be the answer.
What Causes Snoring?
Snoring is a common problem many people experience, and it is not always related to sleep apnea. It can occur for several reasons, some of which include:
- Obesity or being overweight
- Sinus congestion
- Chronic fatigue
- A thick, soft palate that appears lower inside the mouth
- A deviated septum
When the airway becomes narrowed or partially blocked because of relaxed tissues inside the mouth, the result is a loud vibration – snoring.
What is a Sleep Dentist?
It might seem as if this condition is untreatable, even though there are many products available on the market that are supposed to improve symptoms; however, there is one avenue many patients often forget to consider, a sleep dentist.
These professionals are trained in dental sleep medicine – a field that focuses on providing snoring treatment in Delafield as well as reducing the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
After undergoing a sleep study and receiving a formal diagnosis, patients can schedule an appointment with a sleep dentist to discuss available treatment options. While one of the most common methods includes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, another option is becoming increasingly popular among those struggling to breathe easily at night – oral appliance treatment.
How Can an Oral Appliance Be Beneficial?
Custom-made oral appliances from a trusted sleep dentist are considered a more patient-friendly alternative to CPAP therapy. Here’s why:
- They are customized to meet each patient’s needs, so they fit comfortably and are designed to achieve desired goals.
- They are portable and can easily fit in a pocket, purse, or carry-on bag when traveling (unlike a CPAP machine that can be bulky to maneuver).
- They make no noise when trying to fall asleep. CPAP machines can be loud, making it harder for patients to rest.
- They require no tubes, masks, or additional equipment.
- They can be partially covered by health insurance because they are considered medical devices.
A sleep dentist will make sure the oral appliance adequately shifts the jaw forward so that the oral tissues do not collapse and block a person’s airway. This can lead to quieter, uninterrupted sleep, which means a happier home for you and your partner.
About the Author
Dr. Udoka Holinbeck is a holistic dentist who provides a whole-body health approach when treating her patients. Apart from addressing some of the more common dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease, and dental decay, she and the team at Bionica Dental Wellness also provide sleep apnea treatment. Using custom oral appliances, she can minimize the effects of snoring while also reducing the symptoms associated with sleep apnea. If you struggle to get the rest you need, visit our website or call (262) 746-7152 to learn more.