Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which there are pauses in breathing while sleeping.
Sleep apnea occurs when tissue in the back of the throat collapses and blocks the airway, reducing the amount of oxygen delivered to all of your organs including your heart and brain. People with sleep apnea may snore loudly and stop breathing for short periods of time. When the blood-oxygen level drops low enough, the body momentarily wakes up. It can happen so fast that you may not be aware you woke up. This can happen hundreds of times a night, and you may wake up in the morning feeling tired.
Obstructive sleep apnea is very common and potentially life-threatening medical disorder that prevents airflow during sleep. More than 18 million Americans have sleep apnea, and many are not receiving treatment.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
At Pacific Dental Care we are introducing the oral appliance therapy (OAT). Oral appliances are a front-line treatment for snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. This small plastic device fits in the mouth during sleep like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer. Oral appliances help prevent the collapse of the tongue and soft tissues in the back of the throat, keeping the airway open during sleep and promoting adequate air intake.
Dr. Martirosyan is trained to select which oral appliance is right for you and will adjust it for the best results. She will continue to monitor your treatment and may ask you to go for a follow-up sleep study to ensure that the therapy is working.
Dr Martirosyan is trained in oral appliance therapy and will evaluate which type of oral appliance will better suits for your needs. She is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM).
If you need an effective alternative for living with sleep apnea, talk to us today about how OAT can help you get a good night’s rest.
What are the Effects?
