If you have sleep apnea or medically known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most recommended treatment for you is the continuous positive airway pressure therapy or CPAP. However, not all patients need this treatment. Most of the time, it is indicated for moderate to severe form of sleep apnea. So how about patients with mild to moderate apnea? What type of treatment is advisable for them? Well, here at Maple Family Dentistry, we provide different dental devices that can help you with your diagnosis.
The type of treatment applicable for sleep apnea depends mainly on its severity. Many people benefit from a substitute or alternative therapy like oral appliances. When you have a repetitive obstruction in the airway, your breathing pattern while sleeping is affected. The number of breathing pauses per hour is reduced, and this causes low blood oxygen levels. The decreased oxygen levels can be problematic because it can lead to severe complications like stroke, diabetes, hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Getting your Oral Appliance
Before any treatment options, a certified sleep specialist will initially perform a sleep study. This procedure is done to determine the severity of the condition, which has a direct impact on the recommended therapy. After the sleep study evaluation, you will be categorized to a mild, moderate or severe form of Sleep Apnea, then either an oral appliance or CPAP or a combination of both treatment will be used to treat your condition.
If you fall into the category of mild to moderate sleep apnea, your dentists will make a tailor-fitted oral device to suit your needs. Oral Appliances are more comfortable and tolerable to wear as compared to CPAP. Also, dental devices are portable and convenient for travel.
If you are diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, feel free to visit our dentist Niagara Falls Ontario. You can talk to our dental staff if you need alternative treatment options like oral appliances for your sleep apnea or any other dental concerns!