Sleep apnea that goes untreated can cause breathing to stop repeatedly while sleeping. In many cases, breathing may stop hundreds of times a night and not resume a minute or more. Often, the first symptom a patient reports when visiting our Manhattan Beach Sleep Apnea Dentist office is snoring. This is a symptom identified with sleep apnea as well as observed episodes of not breathing and excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep apnea is a serious health concern for millions of Americans. Often it is ignored or misdiagnosed.
Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea. The airway becomes blocked when the soft tissue (tongue, soft palate and pharyngeal walls) at the back of the throat collapses, restricting or closing off air flow. Until recently a CPAP (or Continuous Positive Air Pressure) device was standard for sleep apnea treatment. This is a very effective method, but most patients do not tolerate it well because it is cumbersome and uncomfortable to war. Research shows that less than half of patients diagnosed actually use their CPAP device on a regular basis.
The Manhattan Beach Dentist can often successfully treat sleep apnea by opening the air passage. This is accomplished through the use of a simple oral appliance worn by the patient. This appliance is custom-made to reposition the lower jaw and tongue. When used during the night, this appliance keeps the airway open, reducing or even eliminating apnea events and snoring.
Patients suffering with sleep apnea continue to be amazed at the effectiveness of this simple oral appliance. One reason for its effectiveness is the fact that patients tend to actually use the appliance, unlike CPAP masks that are effective, but often go unused by the patient because of associated discomfort. Our objective is to provide treatment is as effective as CPAP only much more comfortable.
Contact our office to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can work with you and your specific situation to drastically reduce or even eliminate sleep apnea symptoms.