Treating Sleep Apnea At The Dentist

Welcome back to our Butte, MT dentistry blog! We hope that your new year is off to a great start! Just don’t forget to schedule your 2016 dental appointments sooner than later. We can’t wait to get back to work on the health and appearance of your smile.

Here at Butte Family Dental, we try to make it easy for you and your family to maintain good oral health. This is because we know that health and happiness are gifts that should never be taken for granted. But the truth is, we often don’t appreciate how good we have it, until things take a turn for the worse.

We can tell you that nothing will disrupt your life faster than sleep apnea. This is a major problem for many folks. Sleep apnea can adversely affect personal relationships, work performance, and academic achievement, if left untreated.

If you, or someone you love, is suffering from this condition, we can help!

What Does Sleep Apnea Entail?

Sleep apnea disrupts the lives of millions of Americans each year.This condition is usually triggered by dysfunctions in the muscles of the upper respiratory tract.

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

While things are working properly, the muscles that exist in your airway will keep it open throughout the night. When things go awry, your tongue will fall out of place and cause trouble by making it difficult to breathe. That is when your troubles begin!

Warning Signs Of Sleep Apnea

You won’t want to fool around with this condition. Snoring and gasping for breath during the night are two big tell-tale signs of sleep apnea. This can be disruptive for you and for loved ones who are trying to get good sleep.

Beyond that, personality changes, anxiety, and depression, are other unpleasant side effects of this condition. Sleep apnea sufferers are also at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure and gaining weight. Moreover, they often report problems with memory and concentration.

Sleep apnea sufferers are also in danger of having their sleep-deprived bodies cause problems while they are in the car, at work, in school, or engaged in a recreational activity. This is not a sustainable way to live!

We Can Make It Better

We can tell you that this is one situation that usually requires cooperation from a physician. If you have had a sleep study and were diagnosed with sleep apnea, your primary physician will probably make some recommendations in regards to lifestyle changes and treatment.

Rest assured, our team will work closely with you and your sleep doctor to find the best solution for your current needs.

Help Is Available With Dental Devices

We know that time is of the essence. You are probably more than ready to get your life back! the good news is that, 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.

Regardless, we will do our best to get you rest!

Take The Next Step!

We hope you will be inspired by today’s blogpost to take the next step! If sleep apnea is a problem for you or a loved one, contact us today for a consultation in our Butte, MT dentist’s office.

We can get you back to your normal life!