Sleep Apnea in Cincinnati, OH
We all know how disruptive sleep apnea can be not just for the quality of our sleep, but also for every facet of life, from work performance to physical health. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may just assume that the only treatment option is CPAP. You may also not have realized that you can actually turn to a dentist for sleep apnea treatment. Here at Mount Lookout Dental, our Cincinnati, OH, dental team is experts in treating mild to moderate forms of sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy.
About Sleep Apnea
The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in which breathing periodically stops throughout the night. In some cases, someone may temporarily stop breathing over a hundred times in one night. Those with sleep apnea often snore loudly or wake up gasping or choking for air.
The Dangers of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea leads to extreme daytime fatigue, which can affect your work or school performance. It can also increase your chances of injury, whether on the job or while driving. Sleep apnea is also linked to several health problems, including,
- Heart attack
- Heart arrhythmias
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
Getting Diagnosed with Sleep
We can work together with your doctor and sleep specialists to determine whether oral appliance therapy could ease your symptoms and give you a better night's rest. How severe your symptoms are will determine whether this is the right therapy for you. However, you must first be diagnosed with sleep apnea via a sleep study before we can even consider treating you.
How our Dental Team here at Mount Lookout Dental Can Help
While CPAP devices are the most common way to treat sleep apnea, those with mild to moderate forms of sleep apnea may be able to benefit the most from an oral appliance. Similar to a mouth guard, these dental devices reposition the jaw and the tongue forward to prevent the muscles of the throat from collapsing into the airways. These devices are only worn at night while you sleep, and each device is custom-fitted to cater to your specific needs.
Benefits include,
- More compact and easy to travel with
- More comfortable and easy to wear
- Noise-less for a quieter sleep environment
- Less cumbersome and no need for bulky equipment
- Easy to care for and maintain
Candidates for Oral Appliance Therapy
As with any type of treatment, oral appliance therapy isn’t right for everyone. It’s best suited to adults dealing with mild to moderate forms of obstructive sleep apnea; however, it can also benefit patients who may not tolerate or be ideal candidates for CPAP therapy. If this sounds like you, a simple dental evaluation with our team can determine whether you’re right for oral appliance therapy.
If you are living with mild obstructive sleep apnea and want to find out if oral appliance therapy is right for you, call Mount Lookout Dental in Cincinnati, OH, at (513) 871-2852 to schedule an evaluation with our team!