Sleep Apnea Treatment from JSP Dental Improves Health and Quality of Sleep
After a long day, many Americans enjoy a restful sleep. Unfortunately, a considerable number of Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which prevents them from having a good night’s sleep. Besides raucous snoring, OSA sufferers experience a brief stoppage in breathing when sleeping, depriving the body of sufficient oxygen supply and restorative sleep.
OSA can have grave consequences for your health. JSP Dental in Trenton, Michigan, offers a simple yet effective treatment for OSA to restore your health and quality of life.
What is obstructive sleep apnea?
The muscles in the throat support the tongue, uvula, tonsils, and other structures in the mouth. OSA occurs when the muscles relax, causing the soft tissues in the upper airway to collapse. As a result, your airway blocks wholly or partially for 10 seconds or longer. While the cessation of breathing is brief, these episodes can recur up to a hundred times a night.
When the brain senses impaired breathing, it arouses the body to restore normal breathing. That’s why you wake up at night with gasping, choking, or snorting sounds. Since the awakenings are brief, you may not even remember what happened. Unfortunately, these apneic episodes occur repeatedly throughout the night, causing a severe strain on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Symptoms of OSA
Sleep disruptions mean you won’t have the deep and restful sleep needed to thrive. OSA causes several symptoms, including:
- Morning headaches
- Waking up with a sore throat
- Irritability
- Mood changes
- Decreased sex drive
- Daytime fatigue
- Daytime sleepiness despite a full night’s sleep
OSA doesn’t stop at the symptoms above. If left untreated, this sleep disorder can put you at risk of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and stroke. If you suspect OSA, have it treated immediately to avoid health complications.
Treating OSA with oral appliance therapy (OAT)
Treating mild to moderate OSA involves non-invasive treatments. Your physician will likely prescribe a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) to treat OSA. This device delivers a constant airflow through a mask placed on the nose or mouth. The air keeps the airway open by preventing the collapse of the soft tissues. While CPAPs work, many patients find them uncomfortable, cumbersome, and challenging to wear during sleep.
Our office has a simple yet effective treatment for OSA. Using a custom-fitted oral device, we can treat OSA without anxiety-invoking machines. Only worn at night, a sleep apnea mouthpiece depresses the tongue and repositions the lower jaw to keep the airway open. Continued use of a mouthguard restores healthy sleep and sufficient oxygen supply.
Sleep apnea mouthguard near me
Don’t let OSA take control of your health and life. Instead, please call (734) 676-1333 to schedule an appointment with JSP Dental for treatment.
