What is Sleep Apnea?

People who suffer from sleep apnea experience extreme muscle relaxation during their sleep, which can cause soft tissue to block the airway, causing stoppages in breathing. When there are pauses in your breathing as you sleep, your oxygen levels will be reduced. If you stop breathing, even for a short period of time, you are likely to wake, causing disruptions in your sleep.
Some of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea include choking sounds, snoring or gasping during sleep. This condition is more common among men but can also occur in women, especially after or even during menopause. A narrow airway, excess body weight or a misaligned jaw can all contribute to the risks of this condition.

Is Sleep Apnea Treatment Important?

Obstructive sleep apnea can have a negative impact on your overall health. If you don’t seek sleep apnea treatment, it can result in feeling tired throughout the day, memory loss and even morning headaches. Because you are more drowsy, your safety is put in jeopardy with an increased chance of workplace accidents and/or the risk of drowsy driving. It can also increase your risk of serious health problems, such as:

• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Erectile dysfunction
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Chronic acid reflux
• Death in severe cases of sleep apnea

The Use of Oral Appliances

When you’re looking for the most effective sleep apnea treatment, an oral appliance can be the ideal solution. Not only will this custom oral sleep appliance improve your sleep, but it can also revitalize your overall health and improve your quality of sleep. The following guide can help you decide if this treatment is right for you and get started.

About the Use of Oral Appliances

Oral appliances are only used while you are sleeping and are similar in fit to a retainer in orthodontics or a sports mouth guard. The device will hold the jaw in the forward position, helping to keep the upper airway open. This has proven to be an effective sleep apnea treatment, as well as to resolve snoring issues.
Once our dental professionals determine oral appliance therapy is the right treatment option for your needs, we will write a prescription for your custom-made device. The good news is we can provide this service in our office so you don’t have to look for another dental professional to provide you with this service. There are more than 100 oral appliances that are approved by the FDA for use. We will work with you to determine which one will work best based on your unique needs, as well as which ones may be covered by your insurance plan.

The Advantages of Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea

Because oral devices are non-invasive and effective, they are often the right choice for any lifestyle. Patients often prefer this option because they are:

• Easy to wear
• Portable
• Easy to care for
• Comfortable
• Quiet
• Convenient for travel

Your First Visit

Our dentists are willing to work closely with your regular physician to help treat your sleep apnea and snoring issues. During your first appointment with our team, we will talk to you about the various sleep apnea treatment options available. We can provide you with a list of potential side effects, as well as any associated costs.
First, we will complete a thorough examination of your mouth, which can include your jaw, teeth, tongue and airway. This may require an x-ray.

Your Follow-Up Appointment

After you receive your oral appliance for sleep apnea treatment, we will schedule follow-up visits. It’s important for your device to fit properly so we will inspect the fit at your future visits and make the appropriate adjustments to ensure it works properly. The appliance should then be assessed yearly to determine if it needs to be replaced. This is important to the long-term success of your treatments.
We provide quality sleep apnea treatment to patients through Chicago, Lakeview, Lincoln Park and South Loop.