Sleep apnea is a potentially very serious condition in which the airway partially collapses during sleep. This can result in broken, restless sleep, not just for you, but for the one you love. Because your airway is constricted, you snore, which can keep your partner up until all hours of the night. In severe cases, sleep apnea can actually be fatal. But what options exist for treating sleep apnea?
In many cases, sleep apnea results from an improper alignment of the jaw (overbite or underbite), which causes the airway not to align correctly during sleep. A Sacramento dentist http://www.sacramentodentalmedicine.com/ can help you determine if a dental alignment problem is to blame, and if so, can craft a number of appropriate treatments for sleep apnea Sacramento http://www.sacramentodentalmedicine.com/z_sleep_apnea.htm locals use every day. One example of this is orthodontia such as retainers, which hold the lower jaw in place and gently ease it into a more dentally correct position over time.
Another option, depending on the condition of your teeth, is braces with fitted rubber bands at the back of the mouth. These are changed out after brushing and work in much the same way as the retainer described above. The rubber bands help pull your lower jaw into correct alignment with your upper jaw, creating a natural-looking smile, reducing strain on your face and neck, and helping to curb the snoring that can be an early indication of sleep apnea.
Treatments for sleep apnea Sacramento sufferers use vary by the type and degree of sleep apnea, as well as the root cause. The only way to eliminate improper dental and jaw alignment as the culprit is to visit your Sacramento dentist. They usually take X-rays and often casts of your jaw and teeth in both sitting and prone (lying down) positions to determine if the reason for your snoring is actually in your mouth. By studying these casts and X-rays, the dentist can help you determine the best course and method of treatment for your sleep apnea.Any Sacramento dentist can tell you that sleep apnea isn’t a shameful thing, but it can be dangerous or even deadly if left untreated. Don’t take chances with your sleep apnea. Visit your dentist and correct the cause!
