Sleep Apnea Treatment

Did you know that your dentist can help you sleep better? Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can disrupt your quality of sleep as well as your quality of life. Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated cessations in breathing throughout the night. It is typically associated with loud snoring and causes a person to frequently wake up gasping for air. Without general dentistry, sleep apnea can lead to headaches, daytime fatigue, irritability as well as depression and anxiety. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can also compromise your overall health, as it has been linked to stroke, high blood pressure and heart attack.

While the facts surrounding untreated sleep apnea are dismal, this condition can be effectively remedied by your dentist in many cases. Dr. Shunnarah is proud to offer sleep apnea treatment in the comfort of our Montevallo office. We use the most proven oral appliance therapies to prevent sleep apnea episodes and restore a good night’s sleep. Studies show that the use of oral appliance therapy to treat sleep apnea carries a 77% to 95% success rate!

Relief from Snoring and Teeth Grinding

While there are many different causes of snoring, sleep apnea is one of the most common and most serious. Snoring occurs when your air passages become narrowed, causing an audible vibration as air is trying to pass through the tissues. To prevent snoring and treat your sleep apnea, a custom oral appliance can be used. This nighttime device is comfortable to wear and can effectively open the airways enough to allow healthy breathing while you sleep. For those that suffer from severe snoring due to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, an oral appliance can be a more comfortable and preferred alternative to a CPAP machine.

At Montevallo Family Dentistry, we also recognize that your quality of sleep may be compromised by a teeth grinding (or bruxism) habit. A nighttime mouthguard can not only protect your teeth from damage, but it can also prevent tension headaches, jaw pain and other symptoms associated with teeth grinding.

If you want to find a comfortable solution for your snoring or teeth grinding habit, please contact our comprehensive dental practice today. We are happy to work collaboratively with your physician to determine if you could benefit from oral appliance therapy for your sleep apnea.