Sleep apnea is a disorder where an individual has trouble staying asleep and wakes up frequently due to a partial or complete upper airway obstruction. This can lead to loud snoring, insomnia, as well as other physical and mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

If you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, there are many treatment options you could pursue. Oral appliances such as a custom-fit device or mouth guard may be useful for people with sleep apnea who cannot use CPAP machines or other ventilation equipment overnight.

Dental appliances are also useful as dental treatments for sleep apnea patients who don’t respond well to sedative drugs used during sleep studies.

Regardless of your unique sleep apnea condition, Dr. Jeremy Abbott, an Orofacial Pain Specialist Residency-Trained in Dental Sleep Medicine, can guide you to the best treatment. He treats patients in Rockville, MD, and can help you too.

Types of sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is split into three main types:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea – This is caused by the relaxation of the soft tissues at the back of the throat which blocks the upper airway. The block will wake you up with a gasp or a choke several times per hour, preventing you from getting deep sleep.
  • Central sleep apnea – the respiratory muscles, including muscles in your rib cages and the diaphragm, run automatically during sleep courtesy of brain signals. If these signals don’t come or the respiratory muscles ignore them, breathing stops. This can happen several times a night, interrupting your sleep.
  • Complex sleep apnea – it’s when you develop central sleep apnea when you’re receiving treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. So while your upper airway is unlocked, you still experience intermittent breathing during sleep.
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What are the risks of sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated stops and starts in breathing. This interrupts quality sleep, which is essential in ensuring you have sufficient energy for the day and keep your immunity strong. Research links severe sleep apnea to several health risks including:

  • Obesity and weight gain
  • High blood pressure
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Depression
  • Weak immune system
  • Cardiovascular problems including heart attack and heart failure
  • Lower libido
  • Memory loss

Customized and targeted sleep apnea treatment

Most patients dislike CPAP equipment because they are uncomfortable during sleep. Oral appliances are a convenient option for people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is non-invasive, and the oral devices fit the mouth perfectly and move the lower jaw forward to fully open the upper airway allowing you to slip into a deep sleep. Over time, you’ll regain your energy, your blood pressure will drop, and you will have a more restful sleep.

Since custom oral appliances are smaller, they are easier to wear and store, unlike noisy and bulky CPAP equipment. Dr. Jeremy Abbott in Rockville provides custom oral devices that are efficient, comfortable, and will last long.

How long do oral appliances last?

Oral appliance devices easily last for two to five years, depending on how well you take care of them. These devices are made to be worn every night. You may have to submit to a second sleep study (preferably by the sleep specialist who performed your first study) to determine your progress and if device adjustment is necessary.

Experienced dental specialist trained in sleep apnea

Dr. Jeremy Abbott is passionate about sleep apnea treatment and is dedicated to helping patients in Rockville and surrounding areas. After dental school, he received extensive training and practice in orofacial pain and dental sleep medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Orofacial Pain.

Call Dr. Jeremy Abbott in Rockville today for a consultation and learn about your oral appliance therapy choices for better sleep and a higher quality of life.