Bellevue Sleep Apnea Treatment

& Snoring Guards

Snoring Guards & Sleep Apnea Help

Are you or a loved one suffering from snoring that ‘s causing abnormal sleep patterns? Well snoring can often be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA). OSA is a lifelong medical condition that affects somewhere between 18 to 30 million adults. Obstructive sleep apnea has the potential to be a very serious sleep disorder that occurs when muscles that control the tongue and throat become too relaxed during sleep. Your soft tissue may then vibrate (causing snoring) or fully collapse, which can cause you to stop breathing. When breathing is stopped, you awaken suddenly and this can cause terrible sleep patterns. But even worse than losing sleep over OSA, is the potential for life threatening conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease or stroke brought on by the disorder. Sleep apnea can have a significant impact on your quality of life, so why not contact Abella Dental in Bellevue and see if we can help!

Symptoms and Risk Factors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

One of the most common signs of OSA is an ongoing and often very noisy snoring. Most patients suffering from the disorder tend to have pauses in breathing while sleeping or snoring, and often gasp for air following the pause. This pattern is often subtle enough to not trigger full alertness but can alter sleep patterns enough to feel tired and groggy after a night’s sleep. Most people suffering from the disorder do not know they have snoring or breathing issues, so they will often rely on their partner or family member for signs of a problem.

Common Symptoms Can Include:

Snoring
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Pauses in breathing while sleeping
Decreased sex drive

Common Risk Factors Can Include:

Hypertension
Diabetes
Heart disease
Stroke

Oral Appliance for Snoring & Sleep Apnea

Worn while you sleep, an oral appliance fits similar to a mouth guard. It supports the lower jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway. Latest research indicates that oral appliance therapy is a an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

During Your Evaluation

Oral appliances are customized using digital scans or putty impressions which are sent to a dental lab where the appliance is fabricated. Once your oral appliance is ready, you will return to our office for a fitting. Dr. Knopf will adjust the appliance to maximize its comfort and effectiveness. You will be given instructions on how to clean the oral appliance and maintain it. Follow-up visits with Dr. Knopf will be needed to ensure the optimal fit of the oral appliance. Effective oral appliances are always custom fitted and adjusted over time to ensure maximum effectiveness. After adjustments, your sleep physician may schedule you for a sleep study to verify treatment success. We will also reappoint you for an annual assessment. These visits are important part of your long-term treatment success.

With oral appliance therapy you will feel like a new person, with improved quality of life when you remain committed to your treatment and use it every night. Most likely you will sleep better, have more energy and feel sharper throughout the day. And your bed partner may begin to sleep better too. Sleep apnea treatment promotes a healthier heart, body, and mind. If you and your physician decide that oral appliance therapy is the best treatment option for you, then they will write a prescription for you to receive a custom-made oral appliance. More than 100 oral appliances have received FDA clearance. Dr. Knopf will recommend the oral appliance that is best for you. Oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans.

Benefits Of Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-surgical treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle. Patients like oral appliance therapy because it is: