Sleep Apnea Treatment in Weymouth, MA
Sleep apnea can make going to work and doing everyday activities significantly harder. At Weymouth Dental Associates in Weymouth, MA, we realize that the burden sleep apnea has is large. Getting enough quality sleep is essential for people to function properly.
In sleep apnea, the airway becomes blocked while a person sleeps. This can happen due to obesity, laxity of the tongue and jaw, or enlarged tonsils. Identification of the cause, if possible, and proper treatment are things we believe to be very important here at Weymouth Dental Associates.
Complications of Sleep Apnea
Excessive fatigue is a major complaint from people who suffer from sleep apnea. The issue is that over time, fatigue starts to build-up. In the long run, people become more prone to get into accidents while driving or working because they’re so tired to stay alert.
Sleep apnea is also associated with a higher risk of heart disease. If you’re not getting enough rest and stop breathing several times at night, it makes sense that the heart would be affected. Treating sleep apnea isn’t just important to stop feeling tired, it is life-saving.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea
Treating sleep apnea depends on how severe it is. We get referrals to fit people with sleep apnea dental appliances all the time. We do this with precision and accuracy so the appliances do what they’re supposed to by keeping the jaw and tongue in place.
An appliance that’s too large can cause obstruction. On the other hand, an appliance that’s too small won’t work and might also make the airway obstruction worse. Another benefit of a perfectly fitting dental appliance is that it won’t bother people and keep them from sleeping. These appliances are like mouth guards.
CPAP is a popular and very effective treatment of sleep apnea. It’s used in severe cases. For mild to moderate cases, we like to rely on dental appliances if possible because patients have a hard time tolerating CPAP.
Our advice is that if you feel tired all the time or people complain about your snoring, you should see a doctor. The diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea can make all the difference.