If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, our dental team can help.
You’ve finally discovered why you have been waking up in an exhausted haze day in and day out despite sleeping a solid 7-8 hours. You have obstructive sleep apnea. While a sleep specialist can help you get your symptoms under control, you may be surprised to discover that our Elkhart, IN, dentist Dr. Gavin Schill can also help you manage your sleep apnea symptoms with oral appliance therapy.
Can my dentist really help me treat sleep apnea?
We know it might sound strange at first, but yes, our dentist can help you get your sleep apnea under control. After all, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the tissue in the back of the throat collapses in on the airways while you sleep, making it difficult to get the oxygen you need.
The goal of sleep apnea treatment is to keep airways open and to prevent obstructions while you sleep, and this is exactly what our Elkhart, IN, family dentist can do with a custom-made oral appliance designed specifically for patients with sleep apnea or those who snore.
What is oral appliance therapy?
This device looks very similar to a mouthguard in that it sits over your upper and lower teeth. It works in one of two ways,
- It suppresses the tongue to prevent it from blocking the airways while you sleep
- It shifts the jaws slightly forward to prevent the tissue in the back of the throat from collapsing
There are a variety of different oral appliance therapies out there and our dentist will sit down with you to find which style will work best for you. This device is incredibly comfortable, lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to travel with (much easier than dragging CPAP equipment with you). Plus, the device is custom-fitted to your mouth so it’s not intrusive. You will only need to wear your appliance while you sleep.
If you are living with sleep apnea here in Elkhart, IN, and you want to find out if oral appliance therapy is right for you then call Christiana Creek Dental Care today at (574) 262-4378 to schedule a consultation.