If you frequently wake up feeling exhausted no matter how many hours of sleep you get, you may be one of the millions affected by sleep apnea. This disorder causes repeated breathing interruptions throughout the night, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative sleep your body needs. The consequences of chronic sleep deprivation from sleep apnea can take a major toll on your health and quality of life. However, help is available with sleep apnea appliances in Nashville from Iroquois Dentistry.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea, in which the airways become blocked, often by the tongue rolling back into the throat. This obstruction prevents air from flowing freely and causes breathing to stop and start repeatedly.
In addition to constant fatigue, sleep apnea can lead to loud snoring, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and an increased risk for health issues like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes if left untreated. Fortunately, treatment from Dr. K.B. Parkes, Dr. Tyler Smith, Dr. Jody Glover, and Dr. Megan Allred at Iroquois Dentistry can help.
How Sleep Apnea Appliances Work
The standard treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine that uses forced air to open the airways. However, many patients find CPAP masks uncomfortable or the machine disruptive to their sleep.
For those who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy, oral sleep apnea appliances in Nashville offer an effective alternative. These custom-fitted dental devices position the jaw slightly forward to prevent the tongue from collapsing over the airway during sleep.
Nashville Sleep Apnea Appliance Options
The two main types of oral appliances include:
Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs): These appliances consist of connected upper and lower trays that hold the lower jaw forward when worn at night. The protruded jaw helps keep the airway open.
Tongue Retaining Devices: These appliances use a soft bulb that holds the tongue in place using gentle suction to prevent it from rolling back over the throat.
Identify the Right Solution
At Iroquois Dentistry, our team can help identify the most appropriate sleep apnea appliance for your specific needs during a consultation. We take precise oral measurements and impressions to custom-fabricate an appliance that provides a comfortable, secure fit when worn overnight.
Patients often experience reduced symptoms like snoring, gasping for air, and daytime fatigue within the first few weeks of using their sleep apnea appliance. Over time, this therapy can improve overall sleep quality, mood, and energy levels.
Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy
Sleep apnea oral appliances offer several advantages over CPAP machines, including:
Comfort: These small, lightweight devices are discrete and comfortable to wear each night compared to a cumbersome face mask.
Portability: Sleep appliances are portable and easy to take when traveling, unlike packing and transporting a bulky CPAP machine.
Quiet Operation: You won’t disturb your sleeping partner or have trouble falling asleep yourself with the quiet, silent operation of sleep apnea appliances.
Effective Relief: When properly fitted and adjusted, oral appliances have been proven as effective as CPAP for treating obstructive sleep apnea in many patients.
An Experienced Nashville Sleep Apnea Team
Iroquois Dentistry provides customized sleep apnea appliances in Nashville from our team of skilled dentists. We follow best practices for designing, fitting, and adjusting oral sleep devices to ensure optimal comfort and therapeutic results.
Our dentists work closely with sleep physicians to properly diagnose sleep apnea and coordinate your complete care. After starting oral appliance therapy, we provide follow-up visits to monitor your treatment progress and make any modifications needed to your device.
Sleep Apnea Appliances in Nashville
Don’t let sleep apnea continue disrupting your rest and well-being. Reclaim your ability to get a peaceful, uninterrupted night’s sleep with custom oral appliances from the team at Iroquois Dentistry in Nashville. Take the first step by contacting us today to schedule your sleep apnea consultation in Nashville!
We also offer other specialty services, such as Laser Gum Therapy, TMJ Disorder Treatment, and Botox. We are here for all your dental needs! Call today!