Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic and very common type of sleeping disorder. This condition affects breathing due to the relaxation of the muscles at the back of your throat. There are several signs and symptoms that are associated with OSA. These include excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, snoring and choking sounds while sleeping. Read on to learn how a dentist can help with sleep apnea treatment.
Seeking treatment for OSA is highly recommended. If left untreated, it can have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. Treatment often helps to ease the symptoms and prevent other serious complications. People who have any of the symptoms should see a dentist or doctor as soon as possible. This will ensure a person gets the appropriate treatment at the right time.
A person who is struggling with the symptoms of sleep apnea, like snoring and sleeplessness, should seek help. Sometimes, people even discover they have a sleep disorder during a checkup with the dentist. Dentists can play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of OSA. Dentists may screen patients for sleep apnea using questionnaires and evaluating the airway. The patient will then be referred to a physician for an evaluation. Dentists are fully aware of the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea and how it is treated.
But since OSA is a medical condition, dentists are not supposed to diagnose sleep disorders. Only a medical doctor is supposed to make an official diagnosis of the condition. A doctor can provide a patient with a complete sleep evaluation. This may involve either a home sleep apnea test or an overnight sleep study. The sleep doctor will then interpret the data from the sleep study before making a diagnosis.
Some effective treatment options for sleep apnea include oral appliance therapy and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Surgery may also be recommended. Oral appliance therapy has been proven to be a good treatment option for OSA and snoring. An oral appliance is supposed to be worn in the mouth while a patient sleeps. These appliances support the jaw in a forward position in order to maintain an open upper airway.
After both a doctor and patient decide that oral appliance therapy may be beneficial, the doctor will write a prescription for the patient to receive a sleep apnea appliance. The patient will also be referred to a dentist who can provide oral appliance therapy. There are many oral appliances available that have been approved for use. The dentist will suggest a device that is ideal for the patient.
Treating obstructive sleep apnea is very important to your health. It will help ease the symptoms of the disorder and to improve your life. There are several treatment options for your condition that a sleep doctor may recommend. The doctor will discuss the different options with you. But it is important to talk to your dentist or doctor if you experience any of the symptoms of sleep apnea. If you suspect you have the condition, speak to your dentist or doctor today for more information and possible evaluation.
Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Invisalign® for Teens is a viable option for some dental patients but not all. Your child's dentist will consider certain factors, such as how crooked the child's teeth are. If your teenager is a candidate for Invisalign, you can weigh the pros and cons of aligners and traditional braces to decide which works with your…
Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on studying, diagnosing, and treating problems affecting teeth pulp. The most commonly performed endodontic treatment used in dentistry is the root canal, and it allows dentists to save teeth that have severe damage or decay.Root canal treatments are often the last defense when saving a tooth. A…
Many families with adolescents in need of straighter smiles are opting for Invisalign® for teens over traditional braces. Braces use wires and frequent adjustments to straighten each tooth individually. Invisalign clear aligners straighten all the teeth at once and are swapped out for new ones about every two weeks during the process. These aligners are…
If you and your child are interested in an alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign® may be just what you are looking for. It is just as effective at straightening teeth as traditional braces but has certain qualities that make it more tolerable for teenagers.It is usually preferable to wait to delay teeth straightening treatment until…
Invisalign® for Teens is a viable option for some dental patients but not all. Your…
Are you dealing with a severely damaged tooth? You most likely require an endodontic procedure…
Many families with adolescents in need of straighter smiles are opting for Invisalign® for teens…
If you and your child are interested in an alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign® may…
A general dentist is often the first to inform parents that a teenage patient needs…
Like many young people, your teenager may have crooked teeth or bite problems that need…