Welcome to my site! My name is Verity. I work as a receptionist in a dentist office. Every day for the past 20 years, I have come in to the office, worked on paperwork, and greeted patients. I love my job, because it has helped me meet a lot of really wonderful people. I have seen families grow up! But an added benefit from my job is that I have also picked up some small information about dentistry. I'm not one of the dentists, but I do know quite a bit about simple procedures and basic dental hygiene. Hopefully this blog can teach you something, but remember to always consult with your actual dentist for real professional advice!
About Verity Longpar
Sleep Apnea? You Might Want to See Your Dentist
Eleanor Crawford
If you suspect you're suffering from sleep apnea, which professional do you go see first? Many people talk to their primary care doctor while others may seek out a sleep specialist. Surely, these professionals can and do treat sleep apnea, but there is another medical practitioner who you may also want to go visit: your dentist. As strange as it may sound at first, dentists do treat sleep apnea. Here's a look at how they do it.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Sleep apnea occurs mainly when your airway collapses and closes during sleep. This causes you to snore, take in less air and oxygen than needed, and wake up feeling tired rather than rested. One way to help keep your airway open at night is with a special oral appliance. This appliance is worn over your teeth. It keeps your jaw in a position that creates a bit more tension down your airway, helping to keep it from closing at night.
Your dentist can analyze the way your jaw is aligned, how your teeth fit together, and the size of your mouth. They can then create a custom oral appliance for you to wear to bed. All you need to do is pop it in each night and take it out each morning.
Collaboration With Your Doctors
When you have a dentist treat your sleep apnea, they don't usually work alone. Rather, they will collaborate with your doctor to ensure you're getting the most effective care. Your doctor can send over any sleep trial results or reports from previous appointments. Your dentist can use this information to judge how severe your sleep apnea may be, which will affect how they make your appliance.
You'll also continue to have checkups with your doctor after your dentist has fitted you with the oral appliance. During these visits, your doctor can assess how you are responding to the oral appliance. Based on what they see, they may recommend the dentist make some changes. They may also tell you that you can stop using other treatment methods since your dental appliance is helping so effectively.
Having a doctor and a dentist work together on your sleep apnea case really gives you the best of both worlds. Sleep apnea is a complicated condition, and the more angles you can approach it from, the better. A dental appliance is often of great help, especially when your progress with it is overseen by both a dentist and a physician. Keep these tips in mind when looking for sleep apnea treatment solutions.
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