Local Care - Sleep Disorder Research

Oral Appliance Therapy for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea appliances are another way your sleep apnea dentist can help you sleep soundly. Worn while you sleep, oral appliances like CPAP masks can hold your mouth and jaw in such a way that makes breathing easier and will stop snoring. A sleep apnea oral appliance fits into your mouth like a mouth guard, night guard or orthodontic retainer.

Oral appliance therapy is a popular alternative to CPAP treatment. There are many options, and your dentist can help you choose which sleep apnea appliance will be best for your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

One sleep apnea remedy is the mandibular advancement system (MAS), also known as a mandibular advancement device (MAD). This oral splint is a dental appliance that moves the lower jaw slightly forward, which can effectively treat sleep apnea and also provide snoring prevention.

There are many other types of sleep apnea equipment. Generally, oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea are made of soft plastic or hard acrylic. Some incorporate wires or rubber bands to provide the right sort of pressure. Almost all of them require a prescription and a professional fitting by your dental sleep medicine dentist or sleep apnea physician. If a dental appliance doesn't fit properly, it can lead to orthodontic problems and trouble breathing.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Sleep Disorders: Had Enough of Snoring and Feeling Tired?

Sleep disorders are not a normal part of life. While everyone has trouble sleeping sometimes, it should not be a nightly battle. Fortunately, sleep medicine offers some restful solutions.

Some of the most common sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, bruxism (grinding your teeth), sleepwalking, and restless leg syndrome. To diagnose the sleeping problem, a sleep doctor will sometimes have the patient come to a sleep center for an overnight sleep study.

But diagnosing sleep apnea can sometimes be straightforward. If your husband or wife tells you that you snore and skip breaths at night, then you almost certainly have sleep apnea. (Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, but almost everyone with sleep apnea snores.)

Other symptoms of sleep apnea include daytime fatigue, because breathing-disordered sleep is not as restful. But whether a sleep partner diagnoses your sleep apnea or your fatigue sends you to see your dentist or physician, you'll improve your health by seeking sleep apnea treatment.

Sleep apnea treatment can make your sleep more restful, leaving you less tired an in a better mood during the day. Plus, if you stop snoring, maybe your husband or wife will sleep better too!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.