Dental Appliances For Sleep Apnea Relief

By Marcie Goodman


Dental appliances for sleep apnea sufferers are recommended by most medical professionals who treat this disorder as the first step in treatment. They have proved their effectiveness in more than ten years of use. Designed to alleviate snoring, oral devices work on the most common type of apnea, which is termed 'obstructive'. Drugs, sleeping position, and lifestyle changes may also be helpful.

People afflicted with this disorder rarely get adequate rest, because they stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping. The interruptions last from ten seconds to several minutes, and this may happen many times an hour. Understandably, sufferers are fatigued, sleepy during the day, and may become increasingly irritable and even aggressive. They have difficulty performing routine tasks and may become clinically depressed.

A small number of cases of apnea are caused by brain malfunction, but most are throat and airway blockages. The last is 'obstructive' and can be treated with oral appliances as a first response. This use of a device that fits over the teeth is recommended by sleep therapy professionals.

One of the major causes of this problem is obesity. People who are grossly overweight often already have breathing problems. In this instance, lack of muscle tone causes the soft tissues of the throat and airways to collapse when the person is sleeping. Losing weight and exercising under medical supervision can help alleviate breathing problems. Doctors also recommend avoiding alcohol and tobacco smoking.

Serious diseases like heart problems or those which cause chronic pain can be complicated by apnea, which can be caused by some medications. The brain is affected by sleeping disruption, and patients exhibit a variety of symptoms, making diagnosis more difficult. Some people suffer memory loss, some have difficulty in concentrating, and others may find routine tasks hard to perform. This affects daily living, job performance, and total health.

The oral devices designed to control snoring fit over the teeth and work by advancing the lower jaw slightly. This opens up the upper airway, reducing snoring. It also is effective at keeping the airway from collapsing on itself. There are many different FDA-approved devices on the market. Go online to see how the devices work, the different ways they can be adjusted to give a good fit, and the guarantees of satisfaction that manufacturers offer. Materials used vary from medicals grades to those which use FDA-approved plastics that are BPA and latex free.

People who have this condition generally are totally unaware that they stop breathing over and over again. It's usually another person in the household who notices the disturbing pattern. A complete diagnosis involves spending nights st a clinic while being observed by doctors and monitored by electronic diagnostic tools.

Dental appliances for sleep apnea are recommended as the first thing to try in treating this disorder. Not getting adequate rest is a serious handicap, so anyone who suspects that they or family members have this problem should seek medical help. Lifestyle changes alone might suffice if people are truly dedicated to losing weight and exercising their way back to health. However, any such major changes should also be done under medical supervision.




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