Sleep Apnea Rockledge, FL

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Before diving into treatment, it’s essential to understand what obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) involves. OSA is a breathing-related disorder that occurs when the tissues in the airway become overly relaxed and collapse, blocking airflow. Snoring happens when air is forced through this obstructed pathway. If you or your partner frequently snore, this could be the underlying issue.

OSA can lead to choking and gasping as the body attempts to take in enough air. Individuals may stop breathing for ten seconds or more, hundreds of times each night. It’s no surprise that those affected often wake up feeling unrested, struggling to stay awake and alert during the day.

Keep in mind that young people and those who are physically fit can still have this condition. If you think you may have OSA, a study will confirm the diagnosis and provide your Rockledge, FL dentist with the necessary information to create a treatment plan. We offer effective snoring solutions that don’t involve medication, surgery, or cumbersome masks.

If you’ve had a sleep study and have a confirmed diagnosis, we can begin your treatment plan right away.

Signs and Symptoms

If you have sleep apnea, you may suffer from:

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

When it comes to treatment for this condition, Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is quickly emerging as the new gold standard. This is due to the fact that oral appliances are comfortable, portable, effective, and affordable. In contrast, while CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) has long been the primary solution, the cumbersome nature of the equipment makes it challenging for many patients to use consistently.

By wearing a custom-made oral appliance while you sleep, your mouth and jaw are gently forced into their optimal positions, allowing for high-quality, restful night that is undisturbed by breaks in breathing.

In addition to oral appliance therapy, we will discuss some simple behavior modifications you can implement to make nighttime more conducive to sleep. You may need to do something minor like choose a different type of pillow, or we may encourage you to eliminate smoking or afternoon caffeine use. Every patient’s treatment plan is unique to their particular situation, symptoms, and medical history.

We pride ourselves on educating our patients on topics of interest to them, and sleep medicine is one of our favorite topics. It’s about recognizing the impact rest has on our health. Poor quality rest is linked to a whole host of problems, from heart disease and diabetes to depression and cognitive decline. By diagnosing and treating disorders we can improve not just our slumber, but our overall well-being. You need not struggle with rest one more day. If you’ve been diagnosed, please contact us to schedule. If you’ve not yet been diagnosed, take your at-home or in-lab study. Dr. Prill will review the findings, gather information, and discuss a treatment plan with you.

At Signature Smile, we use EMA® Oral Appliances and SomnoMed® Oral Appliances. The EMA orthotic is designed to promote deeper, more restful night by preventing snoring and relieving the numerous symptoms. Benefits include:

• Nine different lengths of elastic straps gradually and incrementally advance the mandible into its optimal position
• EMA patented design allows freedom of lateral mandibular movement
• Patients can easily adjust the straps

The SomnoMed® appliance works by moving the lower jaw forward, clearing the airway and providing high-quality rest.

Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment

We have already mentioned how much better sleep will be once treatment is underway, but there are so many other benefits including:

Learn More About Treatment in Rockledge

If you’re looking for a Rockledge, FL dentist, please look no further than Dr. Hilary Prill of Signature Smile Family Dentistry. Please call us at (321) 633-4020 and one of our team will assist with scheduling and answer any questions you may have.