Sleep Apnea Treatment: Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) in East Longmeadow

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a type of sleep disorder that happens when your breathing becomes interrupted during sleep. This limits the amount of oxygen coming into your body. While this disorder can happen to someone regardless of his or her age, it is most commonly found in people who are over the age of 40.

What Are the Sleep Apnea Symptoms That I Should Be Aware Of?

Knowing what the signs of this sleep disorder are can help you recognize when it’s time to seek treatment. If you experience the following symptoms, you should make an appointment to see one of our dentists as soon as possible.

 Common symptoms of sleep apnea include:

1. Loud/frequent snoring
2. Pauses in breathing during sleep
3. Choking or gasping during sleep
4. Morning headaches
5. Feeling sleepy during the day
6. Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat

What Sleep Apnea Causes Should I Be Aware Of?

When a person is awake, his or her throat muscles are stiff. This allows air to properly flow into the lungs. When a person sleeps, those same muscles relax. This narrows the throat and makes it more difficult for air to flow to the lungs. There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing this disorder:

1. Being overweight
2. Male gender
3. Family history of the condition
4. Having a neck size greater than 16 inches

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

Mild cases of this type of sleep disorder can typically be treated by making small changes to your lifestyle like sleeping on your side and losing weight. Another type of treatment option that can help is to receive a dental appliance that offers relief from symptoms, such as snoring and interrupted breathing, by keeping your tongue and jaw in a certain position while you sleep. More advanced cases of this disorder may require surgery to be properly treated. If you have this disorder, contact your dentist in East Longmeadow to book an appointment. Our team will be able to evaluate your symptoms and decide how severe they are. This will allow us to determine if you will benefit from receiving a customized oral appliance to treat your disorder.

Dental Appliance

What Can You Tell Me About an Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea?

A sleep apnea mouth guard is similar to a retainer or mouth guard that you would wear while playing a sport. It is meant to be worn whenever you are sleeping. These mouth guards function by gently keeping the jaw in a forward position so that the airway is expanded. This minimizes disrupted breathing and other types of symptoms that are closely associated with this type of sleep disorder.

How Much Will My Oral Appliance Cost?

The overall cost of your sleep apnea mouthpiece depends on the kind of device you are prescribed, as well as whether or not you have dental insurance. To learn more about what the cost of your oral appliance could be, contact our office to receive more information.

What Are the Primary Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy Treatment (OAT)?

There are many different benefits that come with receiving oral appliance therapy. These benefits allow you to improve the quality of your sleep and provide you with an opportunity to improve your health. Many of our patients who have received this type of treatment appreciate how easy it is to use and care for their oral therapy appliances. Utilizing oral appliance therapy is more convenient than other options for sleep disorder treatment because it is a portable method of treatment that makes it easier to travel. In addition to this, it is a non-invasive type of treatment that can greatly improve your symptoms without you having to undergo surgery. To find out more about how you can experience the benefits of oral appliance therapy, contact our practice schedule a consultation with one of our experienced dentists.

Will My Insurance Cover Oral Appliance Therapy?

The majority of dental insurance companies cover some or all of the costs of receiving an oral appliance. To learn more about the type of coverage that you are entitled to under your insurance plan, contact your insurance provider.