Sleep Apnea Therapy – Plymouth, MA
Rest Well for Improved Wellness
A balanced diet and regular exercise are two pillars of a healthy lifestyle — and so is sleep. Unfortunately, sleep apnea regularly robs millions of people of the rest they need to function and feel their best. The team at Aveni Dental Professionals is proud to offer sleep apnea therapy, which may be able to help you improve the quality of your nightly sleep and reduce your risk of suffering from systemic illness.
Why Choose Aveni Dental Professionals for Sleep Apnea Therapy?
- 1Dentist with advanced training
- 2Viable alternative to CPAP
- 3Improve your health and quality of life
What Is Sleep Apnea?
There are a few different types of sleep apnea, but obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common. In OSA, the soft tissues in the throat overrelax during sleep. They obstruct the airway and cause pauses in breathing, which are called apneas. Apneas usually only last for a few seconds, but they cause serious disruptions to the sleep cycle.
If sleep apnea is allowed to remain untreated for too long, it increases an individual’s risk of suffering from a number of serious conditions, including heart attack and stroke. There is also a strong correlation between OSA and type 2 diabetes.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea may be due to a number of causes, the most common of which is excess body weight. Too much fat around the neck area increases the risk of airway obstructions. With that being said, it is important to bear in mind that anyone, regardless of their weight, may suffer from OSA. Anatomical defects (such as abnormalities in the jaw or enlarged tonsils) can also cause obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
It is possible that you have OSA if you regularly experience the following symptoms:
- Loud snoring
- Waking up with a headache or sore throat
- Waking up gasping for air
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Insomnia
- Daytime exhaustion
- Slowed reflexes
- Depression or anxiety
If you suspect you have sleep apnea, you should consult with a doctor who can refer you to a sleep testing facility. During a sleep test, a machine monitors your breathing and other vital statistics for a night. The test’s results will let you know whether you have OSA and how severe your condition is.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
The most popular treatment for OSA is a CPAP machine, which gently forces pressurized air down a patient’s throat in order to prevent the airway from becoming obstructed. Most patients are also candidates for a dental sleep appliance, which is a mouthguard-like device that is designed by a dentist. The device repositions the jaw at night in order to allow for easier breathing. Many people who choose an oral appliance over a CPAP machine find that their treatment is comfortable and convenient.
Lifestyle changes can also help to mitigate sleep apnea symptoms or even eliminate them altogether. For example, losing excess body weight, sleeping on your side, and not drinking alcohol before bedtime may all lessen the likelihood that apneas will occur.
In severe OSA cases, surgery on the upper airway may be the best way to relieve OSA.
Have you been diagnosed with OSA? Contact Aveni Dental Professionals to find out how we may be able to help you achieve higher-quality sleep.