OSA and Oral Appliance Therapy
If you or someone you live with is constantly snoring it could be a sign of something more sinister. That something more sinister could be obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious disorder that often leads to more serious health problems including stroke and heart attack. Thankfully, OSA can be controlled with a visit to your dentist in Yorkville.
Snoring and OSA
Snoring occurs when air passing through your upper airways in the throat and nose is obstructed.
While it is normal for your nose and throat muscles to relax while you snooze, they can often become too relaxed. This makes the airways too narrow to breathe through.
People who snore don’t always suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, but it is wise to have it checked out.
According to dental sleep medicine specialist Dr. Judy Sturm, OSA could have dire consequences if it is left untreated.
OSA Symptoms
- Loud Snoring
- Breathing Cessations
- Gasping and Choking while Sleeping
- Waking Up with Dry Mouth
- Daytime Sleepiness
- Morning Headaches
- Loss of Memory
- Problems Staying Focused
- Depression
- Mood Swings
- Low Libido
While not everyone will have all of these symptoms, even one is reason to schedule an appointment with Sturm & Associates.
Oral Appliance Therapy for OSA
While some dentists are able to treat obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and other problems, not all are able to diagnose the disorder.
As a licensed dental sleep medicine provider, Dr. Sturm has the experience to diagnose and also treat obstructive sleep apnea using more conservative treatments such as oral appliance therapy.
Oral appliance therapy is used to help open the airways. This makes it easier for the person to breathe easing the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea.
Depending on your needs, your Toronto dentist might recommend oral splints or custom made mouth guards. Both of these therapies help keep the throat open and are less invasive than CPAP Therapy.
CPAP Therapy and OSA
Often used to treat obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP therapy is the most common solution. However, because it is quite clumsy it isn’t the most comfortable way to get a good night’s sleep.
Breathing through a mask that is connected to a hose connected to a machine works, but it is cumbersome.
Help for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
If you believe you may be suffering from OSA, or already are but would like to learn more about oral appliance therapy, call or send a direct message and talk to a team member from Sturm & Associates today.
