Illinois Sleepapnia - In Your Local Area
Palatine Complete Dental
Appointments: (847) 359-7520
Michael Unti D.D.S.
Palatine Complete Dental
235 North Northwest Highway
Palatine, IL 60067
More Sleep Apnea Dentists in the Palatine, IL Area Near You
Dr. PAUL R METTLER PT DPT
2906 Crossing Ct
Champaign, IL, 61822-6163
(217) 356-6543
Barry Kurzer D.D.S.
5921 Harbour Lane Suite 100
Arlington Heights, IL, 60004
(804) 739-8255
Doctor - Activate Your Free 1stSleepApnea Directory Listing
Gerilyn Alfe, D.D.S. DMD PC
2704 N Halsted
Chicago, IL, 60614
(773) 348-2704
Dr. John Houlihan D.D.S.
2450 Wolf Rd
Westchester, IL, 60154-5643
(708) 492-0300
Apnea: Skipping Breaths at Night Equals Sleep Apnea
An apnea is what happens when you stop breathing for a moment during sleep. Apneas are defined as pauses lasting 10 seconds or longer; a shorter pause is known as a hypopnea. It's most often caused by your breathing passageways becoming blocked while you sleep, a sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea.
During an apnea, blood oxygen levels fall. The brain doesn't get the oxygen it needs. REM sleep, which is supposed to be the most restful, is compromised. Sleep apnea leaves people feeling daytime fatigue, but that's not all: it also leaves sufferers more vulnerable to a host of other health problems. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, brain damage and memory loss have all been linked to sleep apnea.
Not all people who snore have sleep apnea, but most people with sleep apnea do snore. Snoring is loud, rumbling breath during sleep. Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is characterized by stopping breathing or skipping breaths during sleep.
Treating obstructive or central sleep apnea improves a person's overall health and well-being. But a significant side benefit of sleep apnea treatment is that it can eliminate snoring. Ask anyone whose spouse snores just how valuable that can be! In fact, when people who snore seek treatment, the marriage tends to improve as well.
+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.
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.
