SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT IN FRAMINGHAM
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Even though sleep apnea can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life, many don’t realize they suffer from this condition. With obstructive sleep apnea, a person’s breathing becomes shallow or even stops altogether, jolting the body out of deep sleep. There may be hundreds of these episodes in the course of a single night, but patients usually have no recollection of them. Instead, the only sign they have of sleep apnea is a persistent feeling of exhaustion throughout the day.
When a patient has obstructive sleep apnea, they may get a full night of sleep, but they never wake up feeling refreshed because they’re missing out on the deep sleep required to fully recharge. They may doze off during daytime hours, suffer from depression and anxiety, and have trouble with work performance.
There are many potential reasons for sleep apnea, but Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) offers a solution for many patients regardless of the cause. Because it is less expensive and cumbersome than a CPAP machine, it should be considered the first line of treatment for sleep apnea.
Prosthodontists receive specialized training in the treatment of sleep disorders; we can create a custom oral appliance for you to wear every night while you sleep. This appliance helps position the lower jaw and tongue in a way that minimizes airway obstruction, alleviating obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.
If you’d like to schedule a consultation for sleep apnea treatment in Framingham, contact Metrowest Prosthodontics today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Apnea Treatment
How can I treat sleep apnea at home without CPAP?
There are many inexpensive, non-invasive treatments for sleep apnea, including losing weight, quitting smoking, and sleeping on your side. Oral appliance therapy is one of the most effective alternatives to CPAP machines, offering patients a more affordable and comfortable solution.
What aggravates sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can be worsened by drinking alcohol and sleeping on your back. Both make it easier for the upper airway to collapse, which is what causes breathing to stop or become shallower.
What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?
Signs of sleep apnea include snoring, waking up gasping or choking, exhaustion during the day even with eight hours of sleep, morning headaches, mood disorders, and waking up with a sore throat.
Do all snorers have sleep apnea?
No, just because you snore does not necessarily mean that you also have sleep apnea—although most people with sleep apnea do snore as well. Oral appliances work for chronic snoring too, so if you’re not sure whether you have sleep apnea but know that you snore, you may want to try a more affordable nightguard to wear while you sleep and move on to OAT if you don’t see an improvement.
How much is oral appliance therapy?
Oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnea typically cost between $2000-3000. Some or all of this cost may be covered by your insurance.
Can losing weight cure sleep apnea?
In many cases, losing weight can alleviate or even cure sleep apnea. Unfortunately, losing weight is a slow process—because sleep apnea can be dangerous when it causes drowsiness during the day, it’s a good idea to use OAT while also working on achieving a healthy weight.
Can a dentist treat sleep apnea?
Yes, dentists have extensive knowledge on the interactions between the jaw and airway, which gives us unique insight into the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.