When someone has obstructive sleep apnea in Fredrick, Maryland, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy may seem like the only way to go. Unfortunately, not everyone responds positively to this treatment. If you have difficulties tolerating CPAP, Asunción Dental Group offers a simple and minimally invasive treatment to keep your sleep apnea under control. We offer oral appliance therapy to treat mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea.
It’s a sleep disorder where your breathing becomes interrupted during your sleep. Breathing pauses between 10-20 seconds, and these stoppages can happen from 5 to over 100 times in an hour! But why is your breathing interrupted?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when the back muscles of your throat relax, impeding your normal breathing. Snoring is a classic symptom of sleep apnea. Although less common, some patients have central sleep apnea, where the brain fails to send signals to the breathing muscles.
The lack of oxygen during an apneic episode jolts you awake — it happens so briefly that you won’t even remember it. The sleep disruptions mean you don’t get quality sleep, resulting in a myriad of problems, including daytime fatigue and headaches.
Worse yet, if sleep apnea isn’t treated, it may put you at risk of diseases like:
Finding CPAP therapy too cumbersome and uncomfortable? You are not alone. Studies estimate that about 30% to 50% of patients dislike CPAP therapy. A further study found out that about 50% of the patients stop using CPAPs 1-3 weeks after the prescription.
For patients who can’t tolerate CPAPs, Dr. Frederick Asuncion recommends a custom-made dental device, similar to a nightguard. This simple device doesn’t use a mask. You just slip it into your mouth before sleep and forget you are wearing it! But how does the device work?
The oral device pushes your jaw slightly forward and depresses your tongue and other soft tissues, keeping your airway open throughout the sleep. These devices are convenient, less cumbersome, and more comfortable than CPAPs, which work but have a low compliance rate.
If you spend your nights turning and tossing in bed, it’s time to get a restful night’s sleep for you and your bed partner. Please dial (301) 690-8482 to book an appointment with Asuncion Dental Group for effective sleep apnea treatment.
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