Sleep Apnea Treatment - Gainesville, FL
Breathe Easier with an Oral Appliance
Do you always feel exhausted no matter how much sleep you get? Has this caused you to nearly get in a motor vehicle accident because you almost fell asleep behind the wheel? If you’re struggling to make it through the day, you may be suffering from sleep apnea, a serious condition that affects over 20 million Americans every night. Thankfully, Dr. Gabriel Nossa can help alleviate your symptoms using a small, custom-made oral appliance for sleep apnea treatment in Gainesville. By just wearing it to bed each night, you’ll be able to get the deep, restful sleep you need to wake up in the morning feeling fully refreshed and energized.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes frequent pauses in breathing throughout the night with each event lasting potentially for 1 minute or longer. There are multiple forms of the sleep disorder, but the most common occurs from an obstruction in the airway.
Obstructive sleep apnea results from the soft tissues in the back of the mouth or throat collapsing when they relax. This causes a blockage in the airway, which is why snoring is a common symptom. Snoring results from vibrations in the back of the mouth when air passes by the obstruction.
Although it can occur in anyone, people who are overweight or have a large neck circumference have an increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. No matter the cause, it’s essential you get treatment right away. Not only can it significantly impact your quality of life, but it also raises your risk of several potentially deadly complications, like heart attack and stroke.
Treatment Options
If you suspect you have obstructive sleep apnea, you’ll need to undergo a study to monitor you while sleeping. Based on the information gathered, you have a couple of different treatment options to meet your needs.
Oral Appliance Therapy
The most patient-preferred treatment is an oral appliance. Although it may look like an athletic mouthguard, it serves a completely different purpose. The custom-fit device protrudes your lower jaw forward to keep your air passage open to prevent pauses in breathing. When compared to other treatments, it has a higher patient compliance rate because it’s comfortable and easy to tolerate. When used according to your treatment plan, it’s effective for resolving mild-to-moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea.
Combined Therapy
In some cases, an oral appliance may not be enough. Instead, your dentist in Gainesville may recommend a CPAP machine to be used along with the device. A steady stream of air pressure is delivered through a mask that’s worn over the mouth or nose. The gentle air pressure keeps the airways from collapsing to reduce pauses in breathing.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you’re not getting the rest you need at night, you can breathe easier with an oral appliance. To learn more about how we can use dentistry to improve your sleep and protect your health, contact us today.