How An Oral Appliance Helps Stop Sleep Apnea
When people think about sleep apnea treatment, they often picture the loud and cumbersome CPAP machine. But we can offer a comfortable and effective alternative, one that is easy to wear and maintain. Our helpful sleep center in Ballston Spa, NY, explains how we manage your sleep disorder with a comfortable oral splint.
The Causes and Symptoms of the Disorder
What causes an issue like sleep apnea to develop? For some, this could be due to factors like large neck circumference, obesity, sinus and allergy issues, or a deviated septum. Habits like excessive alcohol consumption, sleeping on your back, and an irregular sleep schedule could also be factors with the disorder, soft tissues in the back of your mouth and in the throat become too loose and collapse, cutting off airflow so you stop breathing. The brain then makes you resume, and this can happen multiple times a night even if you don’t remember it occurring. Symptoms include snoring, headaches, dry mouth, waking in the night gasping for air or choking, moodiness, issues with memory, and even strain on your cardiovascular system and immune system!
Oral Appliances
Our team will examine your smile and choose a custom oral appliance to help, adjusting one to fit your smile and offer care with precision and accuracy. With a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), we custom-fit an appliance that moves the lower and upper rows of the teeth at once, and helps keep airways open so you can breathe easily.
We could also prescribe a Tongue-Stabilizing Device (TDE), which helps move the tongue forward when you sleep to prevent blockage to airflow, so you can breathe without interruption throughout the nights and feel more rested and alert the next day. This has been shown to reduce daytime drowsiness.
Devices for Children
Our team also has a device that is meant to help children who suffer from sleep apnea. This device is worn like a retainer 24 hours a day. Known as the Rapid Maxillary Expansion device, or RME, this expands the roof of the mouth to keep airways open and free of obstruction. Studies show that 75% of kids see a drop in sleep apnea symptoms, and 25% see the disorder disappear completely.
If you have any questions about how we help kids and adults alike avoid sleep apnea symptoms and enjoy a better night’s rest, then contact our team today to learn more.
We Want to Help You Rest With Ease
We want to help you enjoy a good night’s rest and avoid the complications of untreated sleep apnea. To find out whether you should undergo treatment for sleep disorders, call Integrative Sleep Center in Ballston Spa, NY at (518) 885-6185 today!
