Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea? if so, you’ve probably considered using a Continuous Positive Air Pressure machine, commonly known as a CPAP. Perhaps you’ve tried one already, only to find the machine uncomfortable. The good news is, you now have an alternative to the CPAP. It’s called an Oral Mandibular Advancement Appliance, and you can get it from your dentist.
The dental sleep medicine specialists at The Greater Attleboro Center For Dental Sleep Medicine in Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts offer oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea so you can sleep well at night.
Sleep apnea affects 18 to 20 million adults, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The condition results in lowered oxygen levels because the tissue at the back of your throat relaxes and blocks your airway when you sleep. This lack of oxygen to your vital organs increases your risk of a stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious medical problems. In fact, untreated sleep apnea can shorten your life.
In the past, the only way to treat sleep apnea was with the CPAP. Many users of the CPAP found it uncomfortable to wear and difficult to maintain. They also found that it often caused sinus problems. The problems with the CPAP caused people to stop using it.
The Oral Mandibular Advancement Appliance works differently. You simply wear the oral appliance while you are sleeping and it keeps your jaw forward during the night, keeping your airway open.
People prefer the Oral Mandibular Advancement Appliance over the CPAP for many reasons including:
- Comfort, because it fits in your mouth, not over your face
- Freedom of movement, because it doesn’t constrict your movements while you sleep
- Portability, because the appliance is small enough to fit in your pocket
- Convenience, because there are no hoses, cords, or other cumbersome parts
You deserve to sleep well at night, even if you have sleep apnea. The Oral Mandibular Advancement Appliance can help. To find out more about sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, call the dental sleep medicine specialists at The Greater Attleboro Center For Dental Sleep Medicine in Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts.