Oral Appliance Therapy
Charlotte, NC
 Do you suffer from frequent fatigue? Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea? Do you keep your partner up with frequent and disruptive snoring? If any of these are affecting your quality of life, our team at Myers Park Dental Partners can help.
What Is Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral appliance therapy is a proven treatment method for a variety of sleep-related ailments. It involves the use of a custom-made oral device to alleviate the symptoms of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. This device is very similar to a retainer.
An oral appliance is only worn at night. They are generally made of a special combination of plastics and other materials, depending on the purpose of your oral appliance. They are about the size of a standard mouthguard, making them easy to transport when traveling.
What Does Oral Appliance Therapy Treat?
Oral appliance therapy is primarily used to treat obstructive sleep apnea and chronic snoring. Both of these ailments can cause you to be fatigued due to getting poor quality or inadequate amounts of sleep. The fatigue associated with these ailments can cause or worsen other diseases.
Snoring affects approximately 40-50% of the total U.S. population. Oral appliances treat snoring by providing added stability to the palate and airway. They assist in keeping your jaw and mouth in a healthy position, thereby keeping your airway open and properly functioning.
Oral appliances similarly treat obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, occurs when your tongue falls or collapses onto the back of your throat or palate. When an OSA episode occurs, your airflow is reduced or halted completely for at least 10 seconds. An oral appliance will treat this issue by shielding your palate and throat from blockage, ensuring that you get continuous, adequate airflow throughout the night.
Treating your sleep apnea is vital to ensuring a good night’s sleep and to protecting your normal brain function. Severe cases of OSA can result in brain damage due to frequent cases of oxygen deprivation. This brain damage can manifest itself in the form of mood swings, forgetfulness, and an inability to concentrate.
How Is My Device Made?
Like many similar dental devices, your oral appliance will be made using either digital images or impressions. Depending on your needs, we may use a combination of both to ensure that your appliance is the best fit for you. After our team completes these molds or images, they are sent to a dental lab. A professional technician will then create your custom oral appliance.
Schedule Your Consultation Appointment
If you think you may have sleep apnea, we can help! Call (704) 332-2532 to schedule your consultation appointment today! |
