Getting a good night's sleep is a necessity. If you suffer from a sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you lack the rest you need for proper function, mood, and well-being. At The Greater Attleboro Center for Dental Sleep Medicine in Attleboro Falls, MA, our four dental sleep medicine specialists deliver innovative solutions to OSA and other sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD).
What is sleep apnea?
The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. Happening to people of all ages, but more frequently with middle-aged men, OSA disrupts the sleep cycle several times a night. Typically, the sufferer snores excessively and startles awake, gasping for breath. They may not even be aware of these microarousals, but nevertheless, the oxygen deprivation is harmful.
However, the repeated apneic episodes take their toll with systemic health problems such as:
- Poor concentration and memory
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Daytime fatigue
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Decreased libido
- Hypertension
OSA is associated with obesity, large neck circumference, and lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking. There are other risk factors as well.
If you exhibit some of the signs and symptoms of OSA or a different SRBD, speak to your primary care physician about a sleep study, as it will yield valuable information regarding your condition.
Dentistry can manage sleep apnea
If you have been diagnosed with a sleep-related breathing disorder, your dental sleep medicine specialists can provide a simple and elegant solution. At our Attleboro Falls, MA, office, your dentists fit patients with acrylic oral appliances that significantly reduce OSA symptoms.
Customized to keep the airway open during the night, these appliances more the lower jaw forward. Many patients find them easy to use and more tolerable than CPAP machines.
The Greater Attleboro Center for Dental Sleep Medicine offers five different types of oral appliances. Worn every night, these appliances yield excellent results and may be used solely or in conjunction with CPAP as needed.
Contact us
Don't go another night without the help you deserve. If you have sleep apnea and wish to explore your treatment options, contact the dental sleep medicine specialists at our Attleboro Falls office: (508) 699-9550.