Patients who suffer from sleep apnea, the cessation of breathing for ten or more seconds at a time during sleep, may think that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is their only treatment option. Unfortunately, a large percentage of patients find themselves unable to adjust to CPAP therapy. For these sleep apnea sufferers, a good night’s sleep may seem completely out of reach. Luckily, a comfortable, custom oral appliance created by a skilled sleep dentist may be a viable alternative.
Why Visit a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Therapy
Dentists are medical professionals who have extensive training in how the oral and facial structures work together. That includes the proper working of the airway. For patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a dentist may be the ideal practitioner to provide treatment to allow them to sleep and breathe deeply through the night.
How Oral Appliances Assist in Sleep Apnea Treatment
If you’ve ever taken a CPR certification courses, you already understand how oral appliances work to treat sleep apnea. When performing CPR or mouth to mouth, the head needs to be tilted back and the jaw shifted forward to keep the airway clear. Sleep apnea appliances move the jaw forward, placing pressure on the throat muscles and keeping the airway completely clear.
Why Choose SomnoDent
The SomnoDent family of oral appliances are comfortable and custom crafted like other oral appliance options. Unlike some custom sleep apnea appliances that need to be adjusted by a dentist, SomnoDent appliances can be easily adjusted from the comfort of home. Additionally, patients can speak clearly and even drink water while wearing their appliance, since the appliance is not locked. Finally, SomnoDent appliances are considered the gold standard in sleep apnea therapy as 90% of patients who use their SomnoDent appliances as directed experience improved quality and quantity of sleep.
Meet Dr. Marks
Donald M. Marks, DMD is a trusted sleep dentist serving patients at State College Dental Sleep Medicine. He has years of training and experience, and uses SomnoDent as well as a variety of other custom crafted oral appliances to help patients sleep soundly, stop snoring, and breathe deeply through the night. Contact our team to schedule a sleep apnea consultation and start down the road to deep and restful sleep today. We welcome patients from State College and all surrounding communities. Our blog is a great resource for patients who want to learn more about the services we provide, and our team is always here to help if you would like to find out more.