Fortunately, sleep apnea is a very treatable condition but first, we must determine if this is what you have. In order to find out, we may recommend that you complete an at home sleep study that will tell us what your breathing is like while you sleep. Those with obstructive sleep apnea will gasp for breath throughout the night, typically, as a result of an obstruction. In this situation, the muscles supporting the lower jaw are weak, and the jaw falls backwards at night. When it does, the tongue falls backwards as well and blocks the airways as it does. This can cause people to gasp for breath, snore, choke, and even stop breathing. Without enough oxygen, the body cannot function properly so this can cause you to wake up feeling tired, even if you slept for a full eight hours.
Since obstructive sleep apnea is caused by an obstruction (your tongue), we start by addressing that problem. As a sleep apnea dentist in Chicago, we don't recommend surgery or other invasive solutions. Instead, we offer a non-invasive approach that is comfortable and easy to use. We will take a mold of your mouth and have a removable oral appliance created. This looks like a full retainer that surrounds your upper and lower teeth. The big difference is that it attaches. This way your lower jaw is held in the proper position as you sleep, preventing your tongue from falling backwards. While a simple concept, this can have dramatic results and completely change the lives of our patients.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea or think you may be due to constant fatigue, you should give us a call. Our patients report having improved energy and being able to do their favorite activities again after starting to wear their oral appliance. Things like staying up for a movie night become possible when you all of a sudden have your energy back. All you have to do is wear the appliance at bedtime and take it out again in the morning.
As a sleep apnea dentist in Chicago, we also help patients that have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are using a CPAP machine. These machines can be bulky, noisy and uncomfortable, making it even harder to sleep. While they are effective, many people don't use them due to how inconvenient they can be. As long as your sleep apnea is mild to moderate, an oral appliance can be a viable alternative. If you have to use a CPAP, using them together can be more comfortable than a CPAP alone.
