Sleep Apnea in Oklahoma City
If you or a partner spend most of the night snoring or loudly catching a breath, it could be a sign of a serious condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a life-threatening disorder wherein a person stops breathing during sleep, only to restart seconds or minutes later. People suffering from sleep apnea are at greater risk for heart disease, rarely feel rested during the day, experience weight gain and often have difficulty concentrating.
Treatment usually begins with a CPAP machine and mask that the sleep apnea sufferer must wear each night to bed. Thankfully, dental technology is giving people suffering from sleep apnea new, less invasive ways to treat their condition!
Treating Sleep Apnea with Silent Nite
Silent Nite is a snore-stopping mouthpiece that increases airflow while you slumber. It works by pushing the lower jaw forward in patients whose lower jaw is back so far that it causes the windpipe to close or the tongue and soft tissue to collapse into the throat. The Silent Nite device is flexible, comfortable and easy to use. It has both an upper and lower tray for your teeth. The device works by using Side-Link connectors that position the jaw properly and hold it in place.
Treating sleep apnea with TAP
The TAP (Thornton Adjustable Positioner) is another mouthpiece device that repositions the jaw to maximize airflow during sleep. TAP is a two-part instrument that snaps together once on a patients’ teeth and functions in a similar fashion to the Silent Nite, holding the jaw in place to keep air flowing easily.
Oklahoma City Sleep Apnea Consult
Sleep apnea is a serious disease, and Dr. Grace recommends patients be diagnosed by a trained sleep professional. For those who do receive a diagnosis of sleep apnea and are looking for options other than a CPAP machine, call our office to set up a consultation and find out if Silent Nite or TAP are right for you.