Sleep Apnea Treatment, Tampa Bay Dental Blog

We Can Treat Sleep Apnea With Oral Appliances

Sleep Apnea Treatment in Tampa, FL | Oral Appliances | CPAP

A good night’s sleep is one of the most underrated ways to improve our overall health and quality of life. However, sleep apnea can disrupt your nightly rest, causing you to snore, wake up throughout the night gasping for air, and feel exhausted in the morning. Some experts estimate that a whopping 1 billion people worldwide—and 30 million Americans—suffer from this condition, most of them without even knowing it. So, what options exist for sleep apnea treatment? At Tampa Bay Mini Dental Implant Solutions, we’re proud to offer a convenient, effective way to help manage sleep apnea through our Delta Sleep Solutions division.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea Treatment in Tampa, FL | Oral Appliances | CPAPSleep apnea is the result of your airways becoming blocked during sleep, preventing oxygen from reaching your lungs. This causes you to wake up repeatedly at night, potentially hundreds of times, and sometimes gasp for air. Because sleep apnea deprives the brain of oxygen, there are potentially dangerous complications that can arise, including daytime drowsiness, increased strain or damage to your heart, arrhythmias, and even sudden cardiac death. If this condition is suspected, a medical professional can diagnose it with an overnight sleep study or a home test, both provided by local sleep labs.

Two different forms of sleep apnea exist: obstructive (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).

  • OSA occurs when your neck and head muscles relax, causing the tissue around them to press into your windpipe.
  • CSA occurs when your brain doesn’t send the proper signals to keep your breathing muscles working. CSA can occur due to heart failure, low blood oxygen levels, and nervous system conditions or damage.
READ MORE  The Fix-on-6® Denture Solution: Answering Your Questions

Some people may experience a combination of both types.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

There are many symptoms that come with sleep apnea, some more obvious than others. Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Feeling tired or exhausted all the time
  • Excessive snoring
  • Mood changes
  • Constantly waking up throughout the night
  • Pauses in breathing while sleeping or unusual breathing patterns
  • Disruptions in brain function (memory loss, trouble concentrating)

Sleep Apnea Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for sleep apnea. However, there are several ways to manage the condition so it doesn’t negatively impact your life. After all, a good night’s sleep leads to so many other health benefits. Some non-medical treatments include losing weight, changing your sleeping position, using sleep aids such as body pillows, and trying nasal sprays or adhesive strips. While those are all worthy at-home options, some people need medical devices to experience quality sleep.

CPAP Machine

A CPAP machine, short for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine, pushes pressurized air down your windpipe while you sleep. This keeps the airway open, helping you to breathe freely throughout the night. It involves wearing a mask over your nose, mouth, or both and takes some getting used to before it becomes part of your nightly routine. While this may sound uncomfortable, there are different varieties of machines, masks, and air pressure levels, so you can find the combination that works best for you. CPAP machines are available through a consultation with a sleep specialist.

Oral Appliances

If a CPAP sounds too expensive or uncomfortable, you may want to consider an oral appliance. This alternative to CPAP is a special type of mouthpiece worn at night that holds your tongue and jaw in position, keeping pressure off your windpipe. Oral appliances address obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form.

READ MORE  Mini Implants Are Efficient and Less Invasive

Getting a custom oral appliance begins with an evaluation by Dr. Cabrera to determine if you’re a good candidate. To make the mouthpiece, we’ll take an impression of your teeth and send the information to a dental lab where your device will be created. Once the device is ready, you’ll come back in for a fitting. You’ll leave with a perfectly fitted mouthpiece. We can also provide a morning repositioner to realign your bite after you remove the device each morning.

The benefits of an oral appliance over CPAP are:

  • More comfortable for those who can’t tolerate CPAP headwear
  • Quieter than a CPAP machine
  • No electricity required
  • Easier for traveling

Learn More About Sleep Apnea Treatment Today

If you constantly wake up at night, feel exhausted during the day, or snore so loudly that your sleep partner has kicked you to the couch, it may be time to consider sleep apnea treatment. Contact Delta Sleep Solutions to schedule a free airway assessment and start sleeping better, thanks to oral appliances.

Luz Cabrera, DMD

Dr. Luz Elena Cabrera was born in Cali, Colombia. Her undergraduate and dental training was in the city of Caracas, at the Central University of Venezuela. In 1988 she emigrated to America and in 1997 she graduated from the University of Florida, Gainesville, FTD Program (Foreign Trained Dentist Program.) The Doctor is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Florida Association of America (FDA) and the Association of the District of West Coast (WCDA). In 1997, she started her private practice in the city of Temple Terrace Florida, and is dedicated to General Dentistry, especially Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dentistry. She has conducted many courses and seminars to keep abreast of all developments and advances in dentistry in recent years. Including courses such as, Diagnosis and Treatment (TMJ) problems of the masticatory system. Dr. Cabrera is a professional trained in the field of Cosmetology, Oral Implantology, Reconstructive and Comprehensive Rehabilitation. She is committed to providing the best services to meet the different needs and expectations of their patients. She resides in Tampa since 1988 with her husband Fernando Cabrera and her three children; Fernando Jr., Viviana, and Sebastian, which offer their help as an employee in her dental office to better serve you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *