Tens of millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a chronic condition that makes it nearly impossible to get consistent sleep throughout the night. If you or a loved one happens to snore loudly as they sleep or wakes up often gasping for air, it may be due to this disorder. Thankfully, our Manchester, NH, dental team can help you take back your good night’s sleep via custom oral appliance therapy. Continue reading below to learn more about this life-changing service.
Sleep apnea is the name of a disorder that occurs when a person experiences multiple pauses in breathing, or episodes of reduced breathing, during sleep. These incidents, known as apneas, can occur hundreds of times in a single night. They disrupt the sleep cycle and can be damaging to your daily quality of life and overall health.
You might be a victim of sleep apnea if:
On the surface, sleep apnea might seem like nothing more than an annoyance. However, if it remains untreated for too long, it can lead to some serious consequences:
The most common way to treat sleep apnea is with a CPAP machine, which uses pressurized air to prevent pauses in breathing. Unfortunately, many people find that their machine is uncomfortable and inconvenient.
At Webster Dental Associates, we offer a popular alternative to CPAP therapy. To remove airway blockages, we create a custom-made oral appliance that is worn as you sleep. This appliance shifts the position of the tongue and moves the jaw forward, creating more space for air to travel as you inhale and exhale. Oral appliance therapy has a higher compliance rate than CPAP machines due to its comfort and ease of use.