Sleep Apnea & Snoring
While snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, it’s important to understand that they’re not the same. If you or someone you know experiences loud, persistent snoring, especially if accompanied by pauses in breathing, gasping, or excessive daytime sleepiness, it’s important to reach out to a healthcare professional for evaluation and a proper diagnosis, often involving a sleep study.
Dentists play a vital role in the screening, co-management, and treatment of patients suffering snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, primarily through the provision of custom-fitted oral appliances, offering a valuable alternative or addition to other therapies like CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).
Dental Treatment Options for Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Once a sleep specialist has diagnosed a patient with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or severe snoring, dentists who are trained in dental sleep medicine can provide effective treatment, primarily through oral appliance therapy (OAT), which provides patients with custom-made, removable devices worn in the mouth during sleep to reposition the lower jaw and/or tongue to keep the airway open. The most common types of oral appliance therapies are using Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) or Tongue-Retaining Devices (TRDs).
Other Dental considerations include:
- Bruxism Guards
- Orthodontic Interventions
- Referrals for Surgery
- Collaboration with other Medical Professionals
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