Dental Solutions For Snoring And Sleep Apnea

Welcome to the Butte Family Dental blog! We are your trusted source for comprehensive dental solutions in the Butte, Montana area.

Today, we want to talk about sleep, or lack thereof. What does that have to do with the dentist? You’ll see!

Many folks right here in Montana are heavy snorers. As you may well know, this can quickly annoy anyone else who might be in the house with the offending party. That is bad enough, but snoring can also be related to far more seriosus concerns, including sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can negatively impact interpersonal relationships, work performance, and academic achievement, if left undiagnosed or untreated. But there are dental solutions to this particular health problem. So, if you, or someone you love, is afflicted by this condition, you will want to keep reading!

What Is Sleep Apnea All About?

Sleep apnea interrupts the lives of countless U.S. citizens every day.This condition is often set off by dysfunctions in the muscles of the upper respiratory tract.

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction (more often than not it is your tongue) in the airway that basically starves your brain (and the rest of you!) of precious Oxygen.

When everything is functioning normally, the muscles that exist in your airway will keep it open throughout the night. When things fall apart, your tongue will slip out of place and cause problems by making it harder to breathe.

Sleep Apnea Is Not Subtle

As we already alluded to, snoring and gasping for breath during the night are two huge warning signs of sleep apnea. Obviously these things can cause trouble for you and for loved ones who are trying to get some rest.

More than that, you can expect personality changes, and increased anxiety and depression with this condition. Sleep apnea sufferers are also at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and packing on additional pounds. And they often report problems with memory and concentration. Maybe you should read this paragraph again. Just kidding. But this condition is no joke.

Sleep apnea sufferers are also in danger of having their sleep-deprived bodies cause accidents while they are operating a motor vehicle, on the jobsite, in school, or engaged in a sporting activity. This is no way to go through life!

There Is Hope!

We can tell you that this is one situation that normally calls out for cooperation from a medical doctor. If you have had a sleep study and were diagnosed with sleep apnea, your primary physician will likely make some suggestions in regards to lifestyle changes and treatment. Our team will then work closely with you and your sleep doctor to find the best treatment for your situation.

Dental Devices Can Help!

We know you are ready to get your regular life back! Luckily, if your sleep apnea is in the mild to moderate range, we can usually create a dental device just for you. There are two primary types of dental devices that we utilize for treating applicable cases of sleep apnea:

The first option is a Mandibular Advancement Device, which is a custom-made mouthguard that gently pushes your lower jaw forward to help keep your airway open.

Another great option is a Tongue Retaining Device, which is essentially a splint constructed to hold the tongue in place alleviating any airway obstructions.

No matter what, we will do our best to get you back on-track.

Reclaim Your Life!

If you suspect that sleep apnea is a problem for you or a loved one, contact us now to schedule a consultation in our Butte, MT office.