Sleep apnea treatment in Clermont, Florida

Our dentists can fit you with a custom oral appliance that will help keep you breathing normally all night so you feel refreshed in the morning. Treating sleep apnea is vital as people who have the sleep disorder are more likely to have auto accidents and accidents at work.

What Is Sleep Apnea in Clermont?

Sleep apnea is usually obstructive and known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is a common sleep disorder where your breathing pauses during sleep for a few seconds or for up to a minute many times each night. A partner may mention you make a choking noise while sleeping or gasp suddenly.

Since you wake up for a fraction of a second to breathe again, you will experience sleepiness during the day because your sleep keeps getting interrupted. There is also a strong link between OSA and heart disease, strokes, and Type 2 diabetes.

Are There Common Signs of Sleep Apnea?

Yes, generally sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Loud snoring most nights
• Making gasping noises while asleep
• Daytime fatigue
• Decrease in attentiveness
• Moodiness
• Morning headaches
• Morning sore throat

While loud snoring and gasping for air are very commons signs of OSA, some individuals go undiagnosed because there is no one to tell them about the symptoms they exhibit in their sleep. Therefore, dentists look for symptoms of OSA in their patients and ask them about their symptoms.

What Causes OSA?

Sleep apnea causes include:

• Extra weight
• Large neck circumference
• Male gender
• Over age 40
• A family history of OSA
• Having a large tongue

While overweight individuals who are older than 40 are the most likely to have OSA, it also can occur in people of any age who are not overweight.

How is OSA Managed?

Our dentist can suggest a mandibular advancement device, or an oral appliance for sleep apnea in Clermont. He or she will look for evidence that you are grinding your teeth. Teeth grinding is the body's instinctual response if you quit breathing.

When your OSA is under control, you will stop grinding your teeth and damaging them. Our dentist will also suggest weight loss if the patient is overweight, since this can reduce or eliminate symptoms in patients with mild OSA.

Our dentist may recommend positional therapy, which is sleeping on your side if you are used to sleeping on your back. Other lifestyle modifications include quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol near bedtime.

Surgery may be the answer in severe cases where a person stops breathing 30 or more times an hour.

Dental Appliance

What Is an Oral Appliance for OSA?

A sleep apnea mouth guard is a custom made oral appliance that gently pushes the lower jaw and tongue forward, which opens the airway and gives you a modified bite.

The appliance resembles a sports mouth guard with hinges. Doctors and dentists often recommend oral appliances for patients with mild or moderate OSA. They also recommend oral appliances for people with severe OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP machines.

After receiving your appliance, you’ll return so our dentist can ensure it works properly and you have adjusted to wearing your oral appliance.

What Does a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece Usually Cost?

The cost of an oral appliance varies depending on the device your dentist chooses for you and whether you have medical insurance which covers oral appliance therapy.

What Advantages Do Oral Appliances Offer?

Oral appliance therapy has many advantages. You will sleep better and feel more energetic the next day. Traditional CPAP machine therapy, which is effective, involves wearing a mask with a hose connected to a machine.

The positive airway pressure keeps your airway open, but after a year, most people stop using their CPAP machine. After a year, most people prefer to use their oral appliance since it's lightweight and convenient.

You can drink water and talk while wearing an oral appliance, which is something you can't do with a CPAP mask. To learn if oral appliance therapy can make your sleep restful, call our office and request an appointment.

What Type of Insurance Pays for OSA Treatment?

OSA is a medical problem so your health insurance would cover oral appliance therapy, even though your dentist is the one providing your oral appliance for sleep apnea. Please review your health insurance policy or contact the plan administrator to determine whether you have coverage for OSA treatment. Call us today at (352) 432-1960 or book an appointment online.