Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Your oral health is intricately connected to your overall physical wellbeing in many different ways. For example, if certain oral tissues or structures are malformed or become overrelaxed while you sleep, they can collapse into your airway and interrupt your breathing cycle. This, in turn, interrupts your sleep cycle, as the interruptions cause your body and brain to panic and clear your airway. At our office, we can help many patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea find better, more restful sleep by addressing their sleep apnea with the help of a custom-designed oral appliance.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a chronic sleep disorder that affects millions of people of all ages. There is no single specific cause for the condition, though patients who experience it can often trace the condition back to an abnormality in their mouth and/or throat tissues. The problem with sleep apnea is that you may not immediately realize you have it. Despite the constant interruptions, it doesn’t always wake you from consciousness, and you may not be aware that you’re losing quality sleep until you being to experience the consequences of chronic sleep deprivation.
How Does a Sleep Appliance Work?
To treat obstructive sleep apnea, we can often custom-design an oral appliance, or sleep apnea appliance, that you can wear while you sleep. The appliance can be designed to support your lower jaw in a comfortable, slightly forward position, which helps prevent any mouth or throat tissues from collapsing into your airway after you’ve fallen asleep. A custom sleep apnea appliance can often be a more preferable solution than traditional sleep apnea treatment, which may involve the use of a more cumbersome CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine and mask.
Learn How to Treat Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea can affect every aspect of your life, but with a custom appliance, we can help you achieve the restful sleep you deserve. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cain and our team, call Healthy Smiles in Gary, IN or Portage, IN today at 219-938-2637, or email our office at info@healthysmilesnwi.com. We proudly serve all of Northwest Indiana and surrounding areas.