Loud snoring is often dismissed as a nuisance. However, for many individuals, it's a sign of a more serious issue that requires targeted treatment. Fortunately, custom oral appliance therapy offers effective and convenient treatment for sleep apnea in Sweetwater without a bulky CPAP machine.
What’s a Custom Oral Appliance?
A custom oral appliance for sleep apnea is a small, dentist-fitted device worn during sleep that repositions the jaw to keep the airway open, offering effective sleep apnea treatment without CPAP for many patients.
Understanding Sleep Apnea and Why Some Patients Skip CPAP
Before exploring treatment options, it helps to understand what's actually happening in the body during an apnea episode.
What Obstructive Sleep Apnea Actually Is
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat relax during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or collapse. This leads to repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night, often accompanied by loud snoring, gasping, and interrupted, poor-quality sleep.
Why CPAP Isn't the Right Fit for Everyone
CPAP therapy remains a highly effective treatment, but it isn't the right fit for every patient. Some people find the mask uncomfortable, while others struggle with the noise or bulk of the machine. This inconvenience and discomfort can result in patients failing to use it consistently.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, oral appliances are a recognized treatment option, particularly for patients with milder sleep apnea, as well as who can't tolerate CPAP treatment.
How a Custom Oral Appliance Works
At Moore Smiles, patients who aren't a fit for CPAP have another effective, dentist-supervised option.
The ProSomnus® Device, Explained
According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the only national nonprofit dedicated to dental sleep medicine, properly fitted oral appliance therapy is an established, evidence-based treatment for qualifying patients. At Moore Smiles, we proudly offer the ProSomnus oral appliance, a precision-fitted device designed to gently reposition the lower jaw forward during sleep. This subtle shift helps keep the airway open, reducing pauses in breathing, without tubes or a machine.
From Sleep Test to Custom Fit: What the Process Looks Like
Sleep apnea treatment typically begins with a sleep study to confirm a sleep apnea diagnosis and determine its severity. From there, Dr. Moore takes digital impressions or scans of your mouth and teeth to design a device tailored to your bite.
Effective Sleep Apnea Treatment in Sweetwater, MN
If you're in Sweetwater and want to learn more about the convenience and effectiveness of custom oral appliance therapy in treating sleep apnea, contact Dr. Christy Moore and the Moore Smiles team today to schedule a consultation!