Sleep Apnea Treatment
Treatment for sleep apnea disorders Washington DC
If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, seeking treatment is imperative. Sleep apnea disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea, or complex sleep apnea, with OSA being the most common, can increase your risk for serious health problems, including heart disease and stroke.
Sleep apnea treatment can dramatically improve your quality of life by helping you get a good night’s rest and alleviating your symptoms. Dr. Talmazov at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry specializes in treating patients with sleep apnea disorders through oral appliance therapy.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Chronic snoring, especially loud snoring
- Daytime fatigue
- Headaches, especially upon waking
- Mood swings or irritability
- Trouble staying asleep
Other symptoms may only be observed by a sleeping partner, such as gasping for air during sleep or even episodes where you stop breathing while asleep and then wake suddenly, gasping for air.
Watch: Causes & Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
What Is the Conventional Treatment for Sleep Apnea?
Depending on which type of sleep apnea you have, conventional treatment may include a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
These machines are large, noisy, and make sleep more difficult for some people. In the past, CPAP machines were one of the only effective treatments available for obstructive sleep apnea, even though many patients struggled to adjust to life with the machine.
Modern sleep apnea therapy through oral appliances makes it possible to treat sleep apnea without using a mask or machine.
Watch: Overview of Our Sleep Apnea Appliance Therapy. Comfortable & Effective.
What Is an Oral Appliance?
An oral appliance is a device that fits in your mouth, similar to a retainer. There are several key differences between oral appliances and CPAP machines, but they both have the same purpose—to keep the airway open during sleep.
By keeping the airway open, sleep apnea devices prevent the loud snoring and airway obstruction that causes cessation of breathing during sleep and repeated awakenings, which can result in symptoms such as daytime fatigue, irritability, and headaches.
Whereas a CPAP machine pressurizes air and forces it through a tube and into a mask the patient wears while asleep to keep the airway open, an oral appliance works differently. An oral appliance gently repositions the jaw to ensure the tongue does not block the airway during sleep.
Unlike a CPAP machine, oral appliances do not require electricity or a mask to work. Instead, you simply wear the device in your mouth during sleep—no noisy machine needed.
The Benefits of Using Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea
Oral appliance therapy has many benefits over traditional CPAP therapy. These devices are:- Much more comfortable for patients to wear, so they are easier to adjust to and allow for a better night’s sleep.
- Custom-made for your unique smile, which makes for an easy adjustment period and a comfortable device.
- Easy to travel with, making them ideal for busy professionals or people who travel frequently for business or leisure.
- Ideal when you sleep in the same room as a partner. Since a CPAP machine can be noisy, an oral appliance is a discreet and silent way to alleviate obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
- Simpler to care for and maintain than CPAP machines.
Do I Qualify for Oral Appliance Therapy?
The best candidates for oral appliance therapy are patients diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. However, each person is unique, so Dr. Talmazov will work with your physician to determine if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy to relieve your sleep apnea symptoms.
How Elite Prosthetic Dentistry Provides Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Dr. Talmazov provides oral appliance therapy for patients with sleep apnea at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry. Our step-by-step process for your treatment will look something like this:
- To successfully treat your sleep apnea, you will first need a diagnosis. If you believe you have sleep apnea but do not yet have a diagnosis, Dr. Talmazov can refer you to a specialist who can assist you.
- Once you have a diagnosis, we can review your diagnosis and symptoms to develop a treatment plan. We begin with determining if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy for your sleep apnea.
- If you are a candidate, we move forward with designing a custom oral appliance device for you. These devices are precision-made to fit your unique smile, so no two will be alike. Its custom design ensures that the device will work properly and be comfortable and easy for you to wear nightly.
- Once your device is ready, you will come in to have Dr. Talmazov inspect the device and ensure it fits perfectly, then provide you with detailed instructions on how to wear and care for your device.
By following their treatment plans, patients who take advantage of oral appliance therapy can see a significant improvement in their symptoms.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Do you suffer from sleep apnea or believe you have OSA? If so, do not wait to get a diagnosis and treatment—it may just save your life. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Talmazov at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry today to discuss your sleep apnea diagnosis and pursue treatment through oral appliance therapy.