Sleep Apnea Treatment: Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) in Racine

What Exactly Is Sleep Apnea?

This common sleep disorder happens when your breathing is disrupted while you are sleeping. Every time your breathing stops, your body can’t receive the oxygen it needs to support its normal processes. Although young people can develop this disorder, you’re more likely to have breathing challenges during sleep once you’re age 40 or older.

What Are Common Sleep Apnea Symptoms?

Since the symptoms occur as you sleep, you might benefit from having someone observe your nighttime patterns. But, you might also notice some of the symptoms of apnea in the daytime hours. The common symptoms of this disorder include the following:

1. Frequent or loud snoring
2. Brief or long breathing pauses during sleep
3. Gasping or choking as you sleep that wakes you up
4. Headaches in the morning
5. Excessive daytime sleepiness
6. Waking up to a sore throat or dry mouth

Being unable to get a good night’s sleep can interfere with your ability to feel alert during the day. If you suspect that apnea symptoms are disrupting your life, then reach out to our dental team. Our dentist can fit you with a dental appliance that prevents apnea symptoms.

What Are the Main Sleep Apnea Causes?

During your waking hours, your throat muscles stay stiff to promote airflow into your lungs. Once you are asleep, the natural tension in your muscles relaxes. The relaxed tissue can block your throat and restrict normal airflow. Although anyone can develop this condition, these factors could raise your risk for disrupted breathing as you rest.

1. Being born a male
2. Carrying excess body weight
3. Having a family history of sleep conditions
4. Measuring a neck size that’s greater than 16 inches

How Do You Treat Sleep Apnea?

People with mild or occasional symptoms of this sleeping disorder can often feel better with small lifestyle changes. Sleeping on your side and losing weight can both help reduce symptoms. But, you may need more assistance from your dentist. A dental appliance for sleep apnea repositions your jaw and tongue with gentle support that stops them from blocking your airway.

Although more advanced cases are sometimes treated with surgery, a dental appliance is often all that you might need to improve your breathing. If you struggle with sleep apnea in Racine, then let us know today by reaching out to schedule an appointment. During your visit to our office, we’ll evaluate the severity of your symptoms and provide our recommendation regarding your ability to benefit from a custom-created oral appliance.

How Does an Oral Appliance for Sleep Apnea Work?

If you’ve ever seen an orthodontic retainer or mouthguard for sports, then you already have an idea of what a sleep apnea mouthpiece looks like. You’ll only need to wear the oral appliance when you sleep, and it works by gently keeping your jaw in the correct position.

By holding your jaw in a forward position, the appliance helps to expand the opening in your airway and minimizes interruptions in your breathing.

What Is the Average Oral Appliance Cost?

A sleep apnea mouth guard is a customized dental appliance, which means our dentist makes sure it fits your teeth and gums perfectly. A customized approach gives you more comfort, but this does mean that the cost can vary from one person to another.

The cost of your new appliance for sleep-related apnea is also impacted by whether or not you have dental or medical insurance. We encourage you to contact our office to find out more about the specific cost of your new mouthpiece.

What Are the Primary Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy Treatment (OAT)?

Being able to enjoy a full night’s rest is the most obvious benefit of asking your dentist about OAT treatment. Many of the patients who use a custom-made oral appliance find that it is easy to use and maintain. Unlike other types of sleep-related apnea treatments, oral appliances are portable and travel-friendly.

You may also prefer this non-invasive option as an alternative to surgery when your symptoms aren’t so severe. To learn more about the benefits of sleep apnea treatment, contact our team to schedule a consultation.

Does Insurance Cover Oral Appliance Therapy?

The majority of insurance companies offer coverage for some or all of the costs that occur when you get an oral appliance. Reach out to your insurance provider to find out what your plan covers, and give us a call to schedule your first appointment for getting an oral appliance for sleep apnea in Racine today. We can’t wait to see you breathe easier with our oral appliance treatment services.