Sleep Apnea in Knoxville, TN
Sleep apnea can be a very serious and difficult condition to deal with. Most people may not know there are CPAP alternatives when it comes to sleep apnea treatment for those who can’t get a good night’s sleep with a CPAP or want a less invasive solution to the problem. When you look up “sleep apnea treatment near me,” you’re more likely to see “sleep apnea dentist near me” because many of the options for sleep apnea treatment without CPAP involve your local dentist.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are three types of sleep apnea, and depending on which one you are diagnosed with, your dentist may be able to provide options for you to help relieve symptoms and provide for a better night’s sleep.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This is the most common form of sleep apnea; it is caused when the airway becomes obstructed or restricted during sleep. This can be due to pressure from the head and neck position against the windpipe. Normally a CPAP is used to force air into the body and the pipe to stay open.
Central Sleep Apnea
This type of sleep apnea occurs when signals from the brain that regulate breathing while asleep do not fire properly. In these cases, a person may have no problem with their breathing, but without the signal from the brain, they can stop breathing suddenly, leading to serious consequences.
Mixed Sleep Apnea
Mixed sleep apnea is the most dangerous and difficult to control because it combines obstructive and central sleep apnea. These cases typically require a CPAP machine to keep the person breathing in case of either symptom kicks in while sleeping.
Sleep Disorder Treatment from Your Dentist
Your dentist may prescribe a few things to assist without sleep apnea, particularly obstructive sleep apnea. Dental appliances are capable of changing the resting position of the jaw and throat to keep the airway open.
The dentist can prescribe a sleep apnea mouth guard that pulls the teeth and jaw forward to reduce pressure on the neck and keep the windpipe open. A snoring mouthpiece or snore guard functions similarly to keep the airway open and to allow more air to come in through the nose allowing for better oxygenation during sleep. More oxygen means that you can get a more restful night’s sleep.