Anyone diagnosed with sleep apnea will want to do something about it, but sadly there is currently no cure – although there are appliances and devices that have been designed to help you sleep better and more safely. Unfortunately, the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device, also known as CPAP, is not a very comfortable thing to have to use, especially when you are trying to sleep, and it means that many people who have sleep apnea are putting themselves at risk because they decide not to use it! What they do not realize is that dentists are just as able to treat sleep apnea and prescribe devices to help you sleep as doctors are – so what can they offer that is different?
Well, for a start, they can offer you a fitting for an oral appliance. It may sound a little weird, but put simply, this is like a mouth guard or a retainer that sits happily in your mouth – and is made custom for you so it fits perfectly – and it helps to keep your tongue in one place, ensuring that your airways can remain open while you sleep. It does all of the hard work of a CPAP without any of the inconvenience or hassle. Dentists even recommend the oral appliance for people who have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea, but have difficulties with snoring or breathing at night.
Of course, these oral appliances only work so well as they do because they have been uniquely made to fit that particular patient. Just like a friend’s mouth guard or retainer won’t fit you that well, neither will an over the counter oral appliance. Getting a custom made one from a certified sleep specialist dentist will make all the difference to the way that you are able to sleep – and your partner may even thank you for snoring less!
