Comfortable & effective treatment for mild to moderate Sleep Apnea
Sleep Apnea & Snoring Treatment El Cajon
Sleep apnea is the condition in which breathing pauses repeatedly during the night, causing debilitating effects due to lack of proper sleep.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends dental devices for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea who are not appropriate candidates for CPAP therapy (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure).
CPAP treatment (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) has been the standard of treatment for sleep apnea until recently. It is still the gold standard of treatment for severe sleep apnea, but for mild to moderate sleep apnea the American Academy of Sleep Medicine also recommends oral appliances as the front line of treatment. We use Oral Appliance Therapy to treat mild to moderate Sleep Apnea cases.
A viable alternative to CPAP Therapy
With CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure the sleep apnea sufferer has to wear a mask at night over the nose, or sometimes nose and mouth. A steady stream of air is pumped by the CPAP machine into the airway, keeping it open and allowing a good night’s rest.
However, a good quantity of sleep apnea sufferers are either intolerant to the CPAP or find it difficult to keep using. Studies report a high non-adherence to CPAP therapy – some as high as 83%. Typical issues include difficult of wearing the tight mask, too much perspiration or just dealing with constant air being blown in through the nose.
Oral Appliance Therapy consists of wearing a nightguard-like device that is comfortable and easy to wear. Depending on the study, compliance rates are between 77% and 95% with a very high effectiveness for mild to moderate sleep apnea and moderate effectiveness for severe sleep apnea.
Sleep Apnea and Snoring Treatment in Rancho San Diego
Do you struggle to get a good night’s sleep due to sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a common condition that can severely impact the way you sleep.
This condition can cause you to feel sleepy throughout the day, affecting your productivity and ability to function normally. Left untreated, sleep apnea can even lead to serious health concerns.
At Rancho San Diego Dental Group, we offer an innovative way to treat sleep apnea. Using a removable oral device, we can help open your airway and relieve sleep-disordered breathing. This device can resolve symptoms like snoring, sleep disturbances, and daytime fatigue.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea, our oral appliance sleep apnea treatment may be the solution.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Rancho San Diego Dental Group provides specialized sleep apnea treatment for patients dealing with this common issue.
Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing while you are asleep. These pauses in breathing may be quick and subtle enough not to fully awaken you, but they can also be prolonged and significant, causing you to wake up gasping for air.
The more pauses you experience in your breathing, the more it affects your overall sleep. You may wake up feeling as if you haven’t slept enough because the pauses in breathing disrupted your sleep pattern.
Without treatment, sleep apnea can lead to more serious consequences for your health. The continued disruptions in breathing can contribute to heart arrhythmias, stroke, or even heart attacks.
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
There are two kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive and central.
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when there is a narrowing of the airways. This may be due to excess weight or being born with a naturally narrow airway. Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain does not send the necessary signals to keep you breathing while asleep. This can be due to underlying neurological issues.
Rancho San Diego Dental Group provides treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea. Our oral appliance therapy can help open narrowed airways and restore appropriate breathing while you are asleep.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
How do you know if you have sleep apnea? Many people do not realize that they are struggling with sleep apnea and simply think they are poor sleepers. Recognizing the symptoms of sleep apnea can help you seek a diagnosis and proper treatment. The most common symptoms of sleep apnea typically include:
- Loud snoring
- Morning headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Lack of energy
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- Mood swings
- Decreased libido
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible. A sleep study can confirm that you have sleep apnea and get you one step closer to relief. Other diagnostic tools can be used to examine your airway for potential causes of narrowing.
Schedule a consultation appointment at Rancho San Diego Dental Group to discuss a snoring and sleep apnea evaluation.
Sleep Apnea Treatment at Rancho San Diego Dental Group
The traditional approach to sleep apnea has been Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment. A CPAP is a device that is worn around your nose and mouth to provide constant pressure in your airways.
While CPAP therapy is considered to be the gold standard of sleep apnea treatments, it is not an option for every patient. For people who cannot use a CPAP, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends dental devices or oral appliances.
At Rancho San Diego Dental Group, we use oral appliance therapy to help patients resolve their sleep apnea.
Oral Appliance Therapy Snoring Treatment
Oral appliance therapy has been shown to be a viable alternative to CPAP treatment. Some patients cannot tolerate the CPAP and find it difficult to wear a mask over their nose and mouth throughout the night. They may also find the constant air emitted from the device to be uncomfortable or disorienting.
This leads to a high non-adherence rate among CPAP users. Studies have shown a non-adherence rate as high as 83% due to these complaints.
If you are tired of CPAP therapy, our oral appliance treatment may be the right choice for you. At Rancho San Diego Dental Group, we provide a nightguard-like device that is worn in the mouth while you sleep. This appliance is comfortable and easy to wear, with compliance rates between 77% and 95% among users.
Our oral appliance therapy can be highly effective for patients who have mild to moderate sleep apnea. Even patients with severe sleep apnea see a moderate resolution to their symptoms.
Combat Snoring Once and for All
One of the biggest symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring. When your airways are obstructed or narrowed, snoring can occur when air tries to pass through. This happens when the soft tissues that are at the back of your throat hit the inside of your throat and produce vibrations.
Our oral appliances help combat snoring by keeping your airway open and allowing air to pass through freely.
Snoring Treatment at Rancho San Diego Dental Group
Are you looking for an alternative to CPAP therapy? At Rancho San Diego Dental Group, we offer oral appliance therapy as a sleep apnea and snoring treatment. This innovative oral device helps open your airways and improve your breathing, allowing you to get a better night’s sleep without snoring.
During your consultation with Dr. Nathan Christensen, we’ll go over your symptoms and assess you for sleep apnea. There are certain tests we can perform to determine whether you have sleep apnea and are in need of snoring treatment. From there, we’ll fit you with a custom-made oral appliance that can provide optimal relief.
Our team of experts works with patients throughout Rancho San Diego, Jamul, Spring Valley, and surrounding cities for a wide range of oral health concerns and even dental emergencies. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or showing symptoms of the condition, you may be in need of evaluation and treatment.
To find out more about our oral appliance sleep apnea treatment, schedule a consultation with Dr. Christensen today.
Effectively handle your snoring!
Snoring is the sound of air passing through obstructed airways during sleep. When the soft tissues at the back of the throat fall against it, they vibrate and cause the sound of snoring.
Oral appliances, similar to a nightguard can be prescribed by Dr. Nathan Christensen to keep your airway open and allow you a restful, and silent night’s sleep.
We use a variety of oral appliances, custom-fit to the patient, to stop snoring. Your first step is a consultation with Dr. Nathan Christensen and he will explain the treatment and answer any questions. You can get your appliance fitted right in our office.
Especially in the case of heavy snorers, snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea, and we can run some tests to see if there is a possibility you are suffering from sleep apnea.
