Oral Appliance Therapy
Chicago, IL
 At Medhat Dental Excellence, we fit oral custom-made appliances that restore your alertness, improve your smile, and invigorate your health. If you snore loudly, you might not be getting the required amount of sleep to stay healthy.
Snoring can be the result of several things, including a cold, excessive weight, allergies, pregnancy, genetics, and smoking. You also can alleviate snoring by avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly, and losing weight. Snoring may also be indicative of a more severe health problem known as obstructive sleep apnea.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
This is a health issue caused by loose anatomy or excessive tissue at the bottom of the throat. It’s mainly considered a male condition, but it also poses severe and even life-threatening medical risks for female sufferers. Some lifestyle habits, including the use of prescription medication and drinking, can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
The health risks of obstructive sleep apnea include weight gain, early death, depression, greater diabetes risk, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Other problems that can adversely affect your daily life include mood disorders, feeling drowsy, interruptions in intimacy, and poor sleep for your partner.
Sleep apnea puts a temporary stop to breathing, which wakes the brain from reinvigorating sleep cycles. While you might not recall waking up last night, it may happen tens of times each night, depriving you of the oxygen and restorative sleep required for your brain and organs to work properly.
What Is Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral appliance therapy helps treat both obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. It involves putting a detachable oral device in your mouth while you sleep. The appliance fits and feels much like an orthodontic retainer or sports mouthguard.
The oral device stops your airway from caving in by either holding your tongue or holding the lower jaw in place. For oral appliance therapy to work effectively, you need to be custom-fitted with an oral device. Over-the-counter appliances mouthguard for treating obstructive sleep apnea or snoring.
Members of our sleep team work with you to give you oral appliance therapy. Our board-certified sleep medicine doctor diagnoses obstructive sleep apnea with a sleep test. Once you’re diagnosed, our dental sleep medicine expert will fit you with our oral device.
CPAP therapy is the most effective option for treating obstructive sleep apnea. But some patients opt for an oral device as it’s small, easy to use, and portable. For persons with a less severe form of sleep apnea, the most effective option is oral appliance therapy.
Treating obstructive sleep apnea or snoring with our oral appliance therapy could help you feel refreshed and renewed. You’ll realize that your symptoms, as well as quality of life, might dramatically improve as long as you use it nightly and stay faithful to your treatment. It’s likely your sleep will improve, you’ll be more energetic, and you’ll feel sharper all day. You might find that your partner starts to sleep better, as well!
Treating snoring or sleep apnea ensures a healthier body, mind, and heart. With your dentist’s assistance, you can greatly improve not only your sleep but also your health. Be sure to contact Medhat Dental Excellence at (773) 774-4611 right away to arrange a consultation.
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