Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
If you've never had a screening for sleep apnea, some of the more obvious warning signs to look for include:
• A large neck circumference
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Chronic headaches or migraines
• Flat, worn, or chipped teeth
• Fractures to dental restorations
• Enlarged tongue or tonsils
• Difficulty concentrating or ADD
• High blood pressure
Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea
Oral sleep appliances are an FDA-approved treatment for certain types of sleep disordered breathing, such as obstructive sleep apnea. They work by positioning your mouth in a way that prevents physical airway blockage at your upper airway near the back of your mouth. As a result, you're able to breathe more freely and take in more oxygen without other types of equipment.
An oral sleep appliance can work independently or alongside of existing CPAP machines. A majority of oral appliance users use their mouthpiece as an alternative or replacement for CPAP therapy.
Advantages of an Oral Sleep Appliance
Dental sleep appliances are more discrete and portable than bulkier CPAP machines. There are no mechanical pieces to clean, machines to pack when traveling, and they aren't bothersome to your sleep partner.
Will I Need a Sleep Study?
Although more complex sleep studies do still occur in overnight sleep labs, that's no longer the case for many of our patients. A take-home bedside sleep test is a more convenient alternative. These devices record your sleep data and then are interpreted by a licensed physician for a formal diagnosis, should a sleeping disorder be present.
Call Our Kinnelon Sleep Dentistry Team
Think you could have a sleeping disorder? Call Integrated Dental Aesthetics in in Kinnelon, NJ today to reserve an appointment.