Many different sleep disorders can harm your dental health. One of the most common is obstructive sleep apnea, which affects an estimated 18 million people in the United States alone, which is why dental sleep medicine means a lot. A specialist in this field does the necessary examination and decides on the proper remedy. Pay a visit to Dr. Robert Garelick. What should anyone know about dental sleep medicine?

What is Dental Sleep Medicine?

Dental sleep medicine is a medical specialty that utilizes oral appliances to treat various sleep disorders. The devices keep the airway open and decrease the number of apnea events during sleep.

What are Dental Sleep Disorders?

• Obstructive sleep apnea 

The most common form of sleep apnea, OSA, occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat block or partially block airflow. It can lead to snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. 

• Central sleep apnea

This similar disorder also pauses breathing during sleep but lacks the snoring noise. An irregularity usually causes it in breathing signals. Complex (or mixed) sleep apnea: This type of OSA combines obstructive and central apneas; its symptoms are similar to the latter condition.

Benefits of Dental Sleep Medicine

There are several benefits to using dental sleep medicine to treat your sleep disorder. They include;

• Treatment is often more comfortable and less invasive than other therapies, such as surgery.
• Appliances are adjustable to your individual needs.
• They’re relatively affordable and can help you save on health care costs in the long term.
• Treatment time varies, but it usually takes one to two months for many patients to see an improvement in their symptoms.

What are the Oral Appliances Used in Dental Sleep Medicine?

There are various types of oral appliances used in dental sleep medicine that can treat snoring, OSA, and other forms of sleep apnea.

• Tongue retaining devices

These appliances hold the tongue in place and prevent it from falling back into the throat during sleep.

• Mandibular advancement devices

Also known as MADs, these appliances push the jaw and tongue forward to keep the airway open.

• Hybrid devices

A combination of a tongue retaining device and a mandibular advancement device, these appliances are usually used for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea.

• Positioning devices 

These are commonly used in children, as they keep the child’s tongue positioned forward while they sleep.

Oral appliance therapy can help treat other disorders associated with snoring, such as snoring alone that’s not related to sleep apnea.

Dental Sleep Medicine Procedures

Oral appliance therapy involves making custom-fitted oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea with materials such as acrylic, polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), or metal. These are molded in the shape of your teeth and gums.

• Examinations 

An initial exam and consultation are completed to establish whether you need oral appliance therapy.

• Molding

Your teeth and gums are modeled and molded into the shape of your appliance; this process typically takes around an hour.

• Fitting 

The appliance is fitted and adjusted to ensure a comfortable, stable fit.

Dental sleep medicine is a medical specialty that utilizes oral appliances to treat various sleep disorders. The machines keep the airway open and decrease the number of apnea events during sleep. There are several benefits to using dental sleep medicine, including being less invasive than other therapies. What you need is to hire a specialist for the best assistance.