Sleep Apnea/CPAP Alternatives at Lawrence Dental Solutions

Many of us experience mild to moderate snoring on occasion. For millions of Americans, snoring is more of a problem than they may initially think. Sometimes snoring is far more than a pesky problem. Snoring can be a symptom of a serious sleep disorder called sleep apnea that can negatively impact a person's life.

Sleep apnea is a problem that can be challenging to diagnose only because patients are rarely aware they are experiencing anything more than typical nighttime snoring. This condition is far different, however, in that sleep apnea produces pauses in breathing, during which the body is deprived of the oxygen necessary for full health. The most common form of this disorder is called obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the airway becomes blocked by muscles as they fully relax during sleep.

There are a number of factors which causes obstructive sleep apnea, including obesity or a large neck circumference, use of sleep aids or alcohol, family history, age, and nasal congestion. What is more important, however, is to know how to recognize the symptoms of sleep apnea so that health complications can be avoided. Many people who suffer from sleep apnea find that they:

• Often wake with a sore throat or dry mouth
• Wake during the night to drink water or use the bathroom
• Often feel excessively tired during the day even after a full night's sleep
• Find it difficult to concentrate
• Fall asleep for short bursts, such as at a stoplight
• Feel moody, irritable, or depressed

In the past, there was only one treatment commonly offered for the treatment of sleep apnea, the CPAP machine. This device, worn as a mask over the nose and mouth during sleep, tends to create enough discomfort to result in very low compliance. Today, there are more options available, one of which can be found in your experienced dentist's office. At Lawrence Dental Solutions, we turn to the SomnoDent® MAS dental appliance as an alternative to the cumbersome CPAP treatment for sleep apnea. This custom-made dental appliance is designed to keep the upper airway open during sleep by placing the jaw into the proper position, tightening muscles, and the soft tissue that can be found in this area. SomnoDent® is comfortable to wear and effective as a sleep apnea treatment. When wearing this dental appliance, the patient can speak and even drink freely.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition that requires maintenance. We work alongside our sleep apnea patients, medical doctors and may include a sleep specialist in this team of experts, so that through a multi-disciplinary approach, the patient experiences his or her best sleep.

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