How Dental Sleep Medicine Can Help Treat Sleep-disordered Breathing (SDB) Problems
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) problems like snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can compromise your health and overall quality of life. Dental sleep medicine in Sterling, Virginia is vital in diagnosing and treating SDBs using oral appliance therapy.
Are you struggling with snoring or sleep apnea? Schedule an appointment with Abel, Phan & Associates to experience the therapeutic benefits of dental sleep medicine. Dr. Chuong Phan is experienced in treating airway-related conditions, so you are in the right place.
What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?
OSA is the most common SDB problem, which occurs when the upper airway is blocked partially or completely when sleeping. Often, this obstruction occurs when the soft tissues in the throat relax, including the tongue and the soft palate. OSA patients may experience breaks in breathing that last for several seconds, followed by gasping or choking as the body attempts to restore normal airflow. These disruptions can occur multiple times at night, resulting in oxygen desaturation and sleep deprivation.
Common symptoms of OSA include:
- Chronic and loud snoring
- Daytime fatigue and sleepiness
- Morning headaches
- Waking up with a dry or sore throat
- Mood changes and irritability
- Non-restorative sleep despite hours of sleeping
- Poor concentration
Without treatment, sleep apnea causes more than the above symptoms. OSA increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, depression, heart disease, and other systemic conditions. Persistent poor concentration during the day may result in accidents at work or when driving, resulting in injuries and deaths to yourself and those around you.
How does oral appliance therapy treat OSA?
A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is the standard treatment for mild to moderate OSA. It delivers a constant airflow in the upper airway through a mask placed in the mouth. A CPAP machine keeps the upper airway open when sleeping, improving OSA symptoms. Unfortunately, many patients don’t like CPAPs because of the discomfort, noise, portability issues and tedious cleaning process that accompany CPAP therapy.
Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is effective for patients who can’t tolerate CPAPs. OAT uses custom-fitted appliances to maintain an unobstructed airway. Oral appliances reposition the lower jaw to create more space in the upper airway. Some sleep apnea appliances can suppress the tongue, uvula, and other soft tissues to prevent collapse when breathing. When you comply with treatment, oral appliances effectively treat OSA, and patients start experiencing improvements after days.
What are the advantages of oral appliance therapy?
Underdeveloped jaws, narrow dental arches, or improper teeth alignment can lead to a restricted airway. This can make it more likely for the soft tissues in the throat to collapse, causing obstructive sleep apnea. Dental sleep medicine understands how oral development issues affect sleep quality and health.
Oral appliance therapy is a simple yet effective solution for addressing airway-related issues that contribute to OSA, snoring, and other sleep disorders. Patients often prefer oral appliances due to several advantages, including:
- Discreet and comfortable treatment
- They are minimally invasive
- Portability
- You don’t need electricity to operate them
- Noiseless treatment
- They are easy to maintain
Do you need sleep apnea and snoring treatment?
You don’t need surgery or machines strapped to your head to restore your healthy sleep and life. Schedule an appointment with a dental sleep medicine specialist in Sterling, Virginia for sleep apnea and snoring relief—call (571) 450-9848 to reserve a consultation with Abel, Phan & Associates.
Dr. Anna Abel
Dr. Chuong Phan