Breathe Better, Sleep Better, and Live Better with Sleep Appliance Therapy
Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can deny you a restful night’s sleep. Sleep deprivation, night after night, not only leads to daytime fatigue and sleepiness but can cause numerous health complications.
Lifestyle Dentistry in Smyrna, Georgia, understands that sleep is as important as diet or exercise in maintaining good health. If you suffer from disrupted sleep because of snoring or OSA, our oral appliance therapy (OAT) can help you sleep soundly again.
The dangers of chronic snoring and sleep apnea
Even occasional snoring should not be viewed as normal. Even after a stressful day, having a few drinks, or when sickness is taking a toll on us. However, when you snore every night, it’s not something to ignore. Chronic snoring isn’t only a nuisance to your bed partner, but it can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or a sleep-related breathing disorder.
OSA occurs when the soft tissues at the throat collapse, blocking a possibly already underdeveloped airway, either partially or entirely during sleep. While the stoppage of breathing occurs for a scary 10 seconds or more, these episodes can recur up to a hundred times a night!
When sleeping, insomnia and raucous snoring are the main symptoms of OSA. However, the suffering doesn’t stop here — the symptoms become even more pronounced the following day. The other symptoms of OSA include:
- Poor concentration
- Daytime fatigue
- Waking up with a sore or dry throat
- Morning headaches and migraines
- Mood changes
- Irritability
- Daytime sleepiness
Untreated sleep apnea doesn’t end with the above symptoms. Continued sleep deprivation and disrupted oxygen supply strain major body organs, putting you at risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke, depression, and many other health complications.
Treating snoring and sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy
A CPAP machine has historically been the go-to solution for snoring and OSA problems. This device uses a mask and hose to deliver a continuous and steady stream of pressurized air to keep the airway open during sleep. A CPAP works, but many patients stop using it due to inconvenience and discomfort.
If you don’t like wearing your CPAP, Dr. Aja Nichols uses a custom-fitted oral device to manage snoring and OSA. This dental splint — similar to a retainer — keeps the airway open by depressing the tongue and repositioning the lower jaw to a forward position. A sleep apnea mouthpiece can restore your sleep and overall health when used effectively.
Benefits of oral appliance therapy
A custom-fitted sleep apnea mouthguard offers many benefits, including:
- Ease of use
- Comfortable treatment
- Doesn’t need electricity to operate
- Discreet treatment
- Easy maintenance
- Portability
If you are struggling with sleeping well at night, it’s time to schedule an appointment with Lifestyle Dentistry in Smyrna, Georgia.
We offer oral appliance therapy to improve your health and quality of life with a simple yet effective device. Please call (678) 884-4494 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nichols.
