Sleep Apnea and its Treatment
‘Apnea” is a Greek word meaning “without breath”. Most people see Sleep Apnea as a mere snoring problem but Obstructive Sleep Apnea -as preferably known as, is much more than just snoring loud. Sleep Apnea happens when there is an obstruction in the passage of air while breathing in and out. The windpipe facilitates the airflow but a narrow airway or a misaligned jaw can disturb the smooth flow of air and those results in a low level of oxygen. Poor breathing increases the carbon dioxide levels followed by sudden awakenings during sleep.
It majorly includes snoring and loud sounds during night because of the continuous airflow blockage. There are certain ways of treating OSA, where Dentistry plays a major role. Once when a person is diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, the doctor would interpret the data from sleep to figure out the specific causes.
Dentists and their Oral Tools
A dentist comes into picture when there are oral issues like big tongue size, misaligned jaw, excessive teeth grinding, jaw clenching and oversized soft throat tissues. Dentists treat Sleep Apnea with the help of oral devices. Oral devices are preferably used by many people who are experiencing chronic headaches, neck and shoulder pain and pain while chewing. Jaw pain is a typical sign of Sleep Apnea.
A CPAP device has been widely used to treat OSA. It requires an airtight mask to be used throughout the night to ensure persistent airflow. However, some people find it hard to cope with the hum of the machine and finding the right size of the airtight mask for their face. Whereas oral devices are little and fit cozily into the mouth, they don’t require any sort of mask, nor a machine and have been demonstrated successful treatment alternatives for most OSA sufferers.
The other benefit of Oral appliances is that these can be worn in and out when required. One can wear it all night during sleep and remove it in the morning. These devices are designed to prevent the collapse of the upper airway by pulling the jaw forward. This device is generally known as Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) doesn’t involve any needles, surgery and drilling. With its use, the airway remains smooth reducing the snoring and loud sounds.
Treating OSA with these oral devices would improve your overall health and the general wellbeing that enable you to have a serene night’s rest. OSA treatment can likewise diminish your danger of coronary illness and hypertension issues.