Sleep apnea is a common condition that principally occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat collapse when the sufferer of the condition sleeps. This causes a blockage that prevents air from passing normally through the airway. As a result, the patient appears to stop breathing/hold their breath. Once their body realizes there is a blockage, it prompts the patient to take a particularly large breath that is strong enough to push past the blockage and restart the normal pattern of breathing. This sounds like a snore or snort. This type of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.

There is another type of sleep apnea, called central sleep apnea, that is caused not by a blockage in the airway, but by a failure of the brain to signal the muscles to breathe. This type of sleep apnea is fairly uncommon.

The effects of sleep apnea

Patients who have sleep apnea can experience anywhere between one and one hundred episodes of interrupted breathing during a normal period of sleep. The effects are significant, with patients experiencing daytime fatigue, headaches, mood swings and brain fog. People who have sleep apnea are also at greater risk of developing health problems including:

• High blood pressure

• Stroke

• Heart irregularities

• Heart attack

• Diabetes

• Depression

• Persistent headaches

• Memory and concentration problems

Fortunately, you don’t need to live with the effects of obstructive sleep apnea. Making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking and not drinking alcohol before bed can definitely help reduce your risk of sleep apnea. However, there are also a number of appliances that have been found to be very effective in eliminating the condition.

We are pleased to be able to offer a selection of sleep apnea appliances here at our offices in Destin and Panama Beach, FL. These include the following.

Tongue Suppressing/Retaining Devices

Arguably the most commonly used type of device for sleep apnea, these are also known as mandibular advancement devices or MADs. Tongue stabilizing/retaining devices are small pieces of plastic that sits at your lips, resembling a pacifier that has a hole that you can insert your tongue into. This holds your tongue forward to prevent it become relaxed enough to block your airway.

Aligner Sleep Appliance (ASA) with clear aligners

This dentist-only prescribed solution can be worn with clear aligners, such as those used in Invisalign and ClearCorrect treatments. The device is worn over the top of your clear aligners and works by keeping the lower jaw in the mild forward position to create space at the back of the throat. With custom design and full adjustability, this comfortable solution works to correct mild to moderate OSA.

Combo Therapy Sleep Appliances

This refers to a combination of different sleep appliances in order to achieve the best results and greatest relief from your sleep apnea. Our team will be able to make a recommendation as to which treatments combined will be best for you.

We are also pleased to be able to offer Smart-Chip Sleep Appliances with patient monitoring and 3D printed mouthguards which are designed specifically for your teeth and mouth.
 

To find out more about sleep apnea or any of the treatments that we can offer, please get in touch with our offices.