Why Seeing Your Dentist Could Add Years Back to Your Life

When most people think of sleep apnea treatment, the first thing that comes to mind is wearing a bulky mask and having a loud machine roaring beside your bed all night.

This treatment is known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). But, what if we told you there’s an alternative option provided by your dental care provider?

First, let’s answer, what is sleep apnea?
Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder. The symptoms typically include loud snoring and feeling tired even after a full night of sleep.

Sleep Apnea is a growing health problem in America. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans is impacted but many cases are undiagnosed. Studies report that sleep apnea reduces life expectancy between 8 and 18 years.

It also increases the risk that someone will have high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and depression. Sleep apnea also significantly affects quality of life, leading to snoring, inadequate or poor quality of sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.

What is typically prescribed as treatment for CPAP?
Many doctors are still prescribing CPAP as the gold standard for sleep apnea treatment, even though it is a hassle for patients and has a relatively low compliance rate.

Whether you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea or think you may have sleep apnea and are looking to see a doctor soon, it’s important to know there are alternative options to CPAP.

Have you Been Diagnosed with Sleep Apnea?
At Sala Family Dentistry we are passionate about helping our patients with sleep apnea find solutions to help improve quality of life, sleep better, and live longer.

Introducing: Oral Appliance Therapy.

At Sala Family Dentistry we can provide an alternative treatment to CPAP known as oral appliance therapy. Oral appliance therapy involves a device much like a sports mouth guard that is worn while you sleep.

This device positions the jaw forward to maintain an unobstructed, open upper airway that helps to reduce snoring and regulate breathing during sleep. Unlike CPAP, oral appliance therapy is a convenient option for treating obstructive sleep apnea, according to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Should I See My Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
When most people think of treating sleep apnea they go to their family doctor, ENT, or sleep specialist, and understandably so.

However, if you’ve tried CPAP in the past (which is what is often recommended by most doctors), then it may be time to consider other options that may better suit your lifestyle.

If you are suffering from sleep apnea, we encourage you to give our office a call to schedule your sleep apnea consultation. Most insurance carriers provide coverage for dental sleep apnea appliances.