If you suffer from sleep apnea, you’re not just risking the issues that come with a poor night’s sleep. You’re risking your health and safety, as well.
As such, you’re probably asking yourself what is sleep apnea treatment, and what options are available to solve it.
There are several options available. We’re going to discuss treatment in general and go over what treatments are like to help you better understand your condition and how to fix it.
What is Sleep Apnea Treatment?
When most people think about sleep apnea, they think about CPAP machines. CPAP is that uncomfortable mask some people have to wear to keep them breathing throughout the night. That’s not the only option, though.
Sleep apnea treatment has come a long way, and now there are treatment plans that tackle the root causes of sleep apnea.
For the most part, these treatments rely on exercises and oral appliances to reshape the mouth. The CPAP that you’re likely familiar with simply blows oxygen through your airway to ensure you breathe. It doesn’t treat the core issues.
What is Sleep Apnea Treatment Like?
Sleep apnea treatment can sound intimidating when you start hearing about therapies and oral appliances, but it’s actually the least invasive way to resolve your symptoms and solve the problem.
Everyone’s treatment plan will be different. A cookie-cutter approach simply doesn’t work for everyone.
First, you’ll have a consultation meeting with your sleep dentist, and the dentist will determine what the problem is, the extent of it, and which treatment methods will produce the best results.
The goal of any treatment plan is to open the airway and allow you to breathe properly throughout the night. That’s what causes sleep apnea. Your airway isn’t open fully, and you have brief moments where you can’t breathe in your sleep.
Narrowing of the airway is caused by a variety of things. You might have poor jaw strength, teeth that aren’t aligned properly, cracked teeth, or other issues that cause your mouth to shift in shape.
The goal of treatment is to slowly reshape the mouth. That’s done in two ways.
First, there are oral exercises. These train your oral and facial muscles to open the airway fully. Like any type of exercise, it takes time to see real results. However, the results are long-lasting. This is myofunctional therapy in more professional terms.
Then, there is oral appliance therapy. These sound intimidating, but they’re a lot like retainers. You wear them for a prolonged period, and they cause your teeth to shift back into their proper position.
These appliances come in DNA and MRNA versions, and they’re fully customized to match your mouth.
This entire process is guided by your dentist, and you’re routinely checked on to make sure the treatment is working.
How to Treat Sleep Apnea Effectively
Properly treating sleep apnea isn’t as easy as looking up exercises or buying OTC products. You need a professional to guide you through the process.
At Nevada Dental Sleep, patients receive customized treatment plans designed to address the root causes of sleep apnea in the most effective and non-invasive way.
Our focus is on long-term results that improve both your health and your quality of life.Contact us today, and start your journey to restful nights!
