Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances
For a patient to be required to have a sleep apnea oral appliance, a series of steps must be followed to ensure that it an effective option. Nightly snoring or daytime sleepiness might lead a patient, through a physician's referral, to a sleep clinic for a diagnostic polysomnography, also known as a sleep study. The purpose of this painless study is to determine whether or not the patient suffers from a sleep disorder. Depending upon the results of the first night, a second night of polysomnography might be needed as a follow up to measure again the breathing rate and oxygen levels. Positive results from the polysomnography would indicate a sleep disorder, and the results of the breathing rate tests would would tell doctor if sleep apnea is the cause. Sleep apnea occurs when breathing stops for at least ten seconds dozens of times a night. There are two main types of sleep apnea both with different cuases and treatments. The only way to diagnose both of these is through a sleep study where oxygen levels, breathing rate, and lung pressure are measured. If the lungs stop air pressure during the night, central sleep apnea, where the brain does not send the right breathing signals, is to blame. A breathing mask is likely to be offered to one suffering from central sleep apnea, but a sleep apnea oral appliance is not likely to help. Should lung pressure be continuous throughout the night but breathing is still interrupted, then obstructive sleep apnea is the reason. This type is the result of a physical blockage of the airway. For this more common obstructive sleep apnea, several treatment options are available, including surgery and sleep apnea oral appliances, most of which can be administered by the patient's dentist or an orthodontist.
Obstructive sleep apnea surgery performed by an experienced dentist or oral surgeon is an option in more severe cases. A dentist is likely to try a non-invasive procedure first such as a sleep apnea oral appliance for mild to moderate instances. The goal of any treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is to open up the airway and to increase oxygen flow to the lungs. Often the cause rests with the muscles at the back of the throat relaxing and allowing the soft tissues or the tongue to sag down and block the windpipe. A sleep apnea oral appliance moves the tongue and soft tissues out of the way so that they do not block air flow. Since it is custom made, the patient must see their dentist or orthodontist several times for fitting and to ensure the effectiveness of the sleep apnea oral appliance. Finding an experienced dentist or orthodontist is just as important when being fit for a sleep apnea oral appliance as it is for surgery. Since the patient will have to wear the device all night every night, it must fit properly, and a professional who has seen many other patients for sleep apnea oral appliances is more likely to be able to get the right fit the first time. This lessens the patient's discomfort and speeds relief of obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
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