Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea With Orthodontics
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you and anyone that sleeps in the same room as you may be feeling desperate to find a treatment. Don’t suffer from restless sleep that could be potentially dangerous to your health. Here at Orthodontists Associates of WNY, we are experienced in treating obstructive sleep apnea with orthodontics. Our doctors have helped countless patients of all ages get better, healthier sleep using our state-of-the-art techniques and the latest technology available. Schedule your free consultation today to learn how we can help you and your loved ones get a better nights sleep and cure your obstructive sleep apnea using orthodontic treatment.
Common Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
There are some common signs of obstructive sleep apnea. Some you may notice and some you may not notice in yourself. However, if you sleep next to someone, they likely spot these signs during your sleep that you may be completely unaware of. Since sleep apnea can be potentially life-threatening if left untreated, here are some important signs to look out for if you think you may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
- Unusually loud snoring.
- You stop breathing during your sleep. This is a sign that somebody else will usually notice first.
- You wake up suddenly feeling short of breath.
- You wake up with an unusually dry mouth or with a sore throat.
- You wake up every morning with a headache.
- You struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep (or you struggle with both).
- You are excessively tired during the day.
- You struggle to pay attention during the day.
- You’re irritable.
If you are showing any of these signs or if someone in your family tells you that they’ve noticed them in you, you should schedule a free consultation with our experienced Buffalo orthodontists to talk about your concerns and formulate a treatment plan to help rid you of your obstructive sleep apnea today!
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How Orthodontic Treatment Can Help
How sleep apnea is treated depends, ultimately, on which form of sleep apnea you are diagnosed with. OSA also known as obstructive sleep apnea has several treatments available. Some treatments are more conservative than others. OSA may be treated by use of a CPAP, an APAP, or a BIPAP machine. These machines force air through your airway while you are sleeping. This is known as positive airway pressure (PAP). Your doctor may prescribe the use of an oral appliance. An oral appliance is something that a patient wears in their mouth while they sleep. The two main types hold your jaws in a certain position and hold your tongue in a certain position. The objective of both is to keep your airway from becoming blocked. For severe obstructive sleep apnea, surgery may also be an option.
Central sleep apnea is often treated with a CPAP or BPAP. Another option is an ASV. An ASV is an Adaptive-servo ventilation device. It makes automatic adjustments to compensate for any abnormal breathing patterns the patient may have when they are asleep. Medications may also be prescribed to people who have CSA. Usually, medications are not prescribed unless positive airway pressure doesn’t work.
Complex sleep apnea treatments will ultimately depend on which symptoms you exhibit. We can help develop a custom plan to treat your CSA. Please call any of our five WNY locations to get a free screening with one of our experienced orthodontists.
Due to COVID-19, we have adjusted our practice to offer both in-office treatment and virtual consultations for those who can’t make it to our office. We encourage you to contact us today and arrange your free consultation. We can help you get a good nights sleep and help identify the reason for your restless nights. You don’t have to live with obstructive sleep apnea, contact us today and let our experience work for you.
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