When you suffer from chronic snoring and daytime exhaustion, the time may have come to see your Greenville, TX, dentist for a diagnosis. Our team could create a custom-made and fitted appliance to offer relief. In today’s blog, we’re going to look at how we design and craft these appliances, and how they help you sleep easier.
The Warning Signs of a Disorder
How do you know you need to see our team for treatment? The disorder essentially means that as you sleep, tissues in the back of your mouth and in your throat end up becoming too relaxed. As a result, they then collapse and cut off airflow. You stop breathing briefly, until the brain wakes you. While you may not remember this happening, this could be occurring hundreds of times in a single night, interrupting your sleep cycle and leaving your feeling exhausted and moody. You may wake with dry mouth, experience headaches during the day, have trouble staying focused, and at night, you could snore and wake suddenly gasping for air or choking. If you experience one or more of these possible warning signs, then please let us know!
Creating Your Custom-Fitted Appliance
The next step involves a diagnosis. We begin with a simple sleep assessment, in which we ask about your nighttime habits and possible warning signs and risk factors. Next, we send you home with the pulse oximeter device for a home sleep test. The device measures and records cessation of breathing and other warning signs, so we can offer a diagnosis with accuracy and precision. For a few, we could then recommend a physician-ordered lab sleep test.
For treatment, we will offer an alternative to the CPAP machine. Our team will take detailed impressions and images of your smile, which we gather with digital scanning technology. We use this information in a dental lab setting to design and custom fit an oral appliance, such as the Dynaflex Dorsal, EMA or Herbst appliance, or the Thornton Adjustable Positioner.
When worn at night, these options shift the jaw forward to prevent the collapse of soft tissues, so you enjoy a comfortable method of preventing sleep apnea symptoms and resting with ease!
Better Sleep Habits
You could also help by keeping your bedroom dark and cool, and keeping the room screen-free too. Rest on your side, not your back, and avoid caffeine, excessive alcohol, or large meals right before bed. If you have any questions, give us a call!
Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville Treats OSA
At Smith Family Dentistry, we know that a custom treatment option could help you rest with ease once again. To learn more about treating these concerns, then talk to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.