Better Sleep with Effective Sleep Apnea Treatments in Seattle

Get a Good Night’s Rest Thanks to Seattle Dental Associates

Trusted Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea affects more than 22 million people throughout the United States, however many cases are expected to be undiagnosed due to the wide array of symptoms a person can have. Symptoms can include restlessness, dry mouth, insomnia, frequent nighttime urination, irritability, snoring, or gasping for air, to low attention span.

You can even stop breathing when you sleep. That can be fatal. Why take the risk when there are treatments out there that can significantly decrease your sleep apnea, increase your life expectancy, and help you get a better night’s sleep?

Did you know that your dentist can actually help you get better sleep? Most people think of dentistry as just cleaning teeth and filling cavities, but we also help you achieve healthier sleep by adjusting your jaw and teeth.

Sleeping problems such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and snoring can be remedied with dental sleep medicine. At Seattle Dental Associates, we can help you. Our downtown Seattle, WA practice understands how sleep apnea works. We specialize in the latest treatment methods and techniques. We’ll listen to your concerns and situation and form a plan to help you get the restful sleep you deserve. Many patients don’t even realize they have a sleeping condition till years later. The effects of getting a good night’s sleep are monumental in a healthy life. It can affect your mental and physical health.  With our help, you can get the treatment you need to minimize your condition and sleep safely through the night for life.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

In order to properly treat sleep apnea, you have to know what it is. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep condition where you stop and start breathing throughout the night. There are three types of sleep apnea that can affect you:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This form of sleep apnea occurs when the muscles that support the tongue, soft palate, and throat relax. This causes your airway to narrow or close, and you temporarily stop breathing.
• Central Sleep Apnea: Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain stops sending proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing. More common in patients with specific medical problems, central sleep apnea affects the brainstem more than any other region.
• Complex Sleep Apnea: Also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, this form of affliction combines the symptoms of both obstructive and central sleep apnea. Complex sleep apnea causes continuous airway pressure, insomnia, and chest pain at night.

What Are My Sleep Apnea Treatment Options?

Are you suffering from chronic snoring, insomnia, or diagnosed sleep apnea? If so, the office of Seattle Dental Associates can help! We are caring, dedicated professionals who want to help you sleep better and stay healthier for life.

To accomplish these goals, we offer a broad range of advanced, effective sleep apnea treatments for our patients. Dr. Theron Baker and Dr. Dexter Barnes use their combined expertise to solve sleep apnea conditions using the most advanced methods available. From standard CPAP machines to extensive overnight sleep studies, our practice does more to give you real, comfortable apnea solutions that last for life:

• Lifestyle Changes: Sometimes, simply changing your lifestyle habits reduces your sleep apnea in dramatic ways. Start with creating a good sleep hygiene routine and maintaining a healthy weight. A good sleep hygiene routine includes restricting screen time 30-60 minutes before bed, reducing caffeine intake in the afternoon and evenings, and avoiding alcohol and smoking as both can be a stimulant to the nervous system. Our dental staff will work with you to devise the best plan that works well with your lifestyle.
• Oral Appliances: There have been many breakthroughs in dental sleep medicine involving oral appliances and sleep apnea treatment. Our practice uses them to provide safe, lasting relief to our patients. Opt for a custom-made mouthguard, tongue retention apparatus, or mandibular advancement device. Each appliance offers its unique method of reducing sleep apnea occurrences, improving sleep, and diminishing the frequency and loudness of your snoring.
• Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) Machine: CPAP is the most common and useful form of sleep apnea treatment. A CPAP machine pumps a steady mild flow of air pressure into your lungs to keep your airways open. This treatment makes sure your airways stay clear throughout the night to breathe comfortably while you sleep.

SomnoMed Oral Appliances 

We partner with SomnoMed oral appliances who is the global leader in the design and manufacture of oral appliances to treat sleep apnea. These oral appliances are a great alternative to traditional CPAP machines.

SomnoMed sleep apnea oral appliance is an FDA-cleared, custom-fitted dental device that is specifically designed to be an effective, comfortable and durable alternative to CPAP therapy. It works by moving the lower jaw forward, clearing the airway, and giving you a safe and soundless sleep.

Many things can get in the way of a good night’s sleep with a CPAP machine. You have a hose you’re connected to that can stop you from turning over during the night. These machines can also be noisy and keep you and your partner awake. Plus, it’s uncomfortable to wear a mask while you’re trying to get some sleep. Clinical studies have shown up to 20% of OSA sufferers chose not to start on CPAP, and up to 50% of CPAP patients have quit using it within one year.

With an oral appliance like SomnoMed’s appliances, it is easy to get a good night’s sleep. 

CPAP Machines vs. Mandibular Advancement Devices

CPAP may be the most prescribed mechanical device to help with sleep apnea, but some drawbacks leave patients looking for other options. One of those alternatives is the most widely used mouth appliance in dental sleep medicine: the mandibular advancement device (MAD).

Patients prefer MADs to CPAP machines for several reasons:

• Ease of Use: Unlike CPAP machines, these oral sleep appliances require no hoses or masks. They are non-mechanical and worn overnight, with little interruption to normal sleep patterns.
• Natural Positioning: MADs are specially fabricated to position the lower jaw and tongue slightly forward and expand the throat. Through this movement, the airway stays open and facilitates unobstructed breathing while you are asleep. There is no forced air pressure as with CPAP machines.
• Customization: Almost all CPAP machines are created equal. There are a variety of unique styles and designs to choose from for your personal MAD. Each device contours to your jaw to give you an ideal fit.

What is a Dental Sleep Appliance?

A dental sleep appliance is like a mouth guard or a retainer. Patients only wear it when they sleep to correct their jaw for optimal breathing position. The appliance slightly pushes the jaw forward to keep the airway open. Each appliance is custom-fit and fabricated to fit the mouth and needs of the individual patient.

Are Dental Sleep Appliances Covered by Insurance?

Most dental sleep appliance therapy is covered by medical insurance. OSA is a medical condition rather than a dental condition. Our team here will be able to work with your insurance provider for more information.

If I have TMJ Problems, Can I Still Use Dental Sleep Appliances?

This answer varies among patients. Most patients can use a dental sleep appliance with TMJ, and in some cases, patients noticed their TMJ improved via using dental sleep appliances but will require a more in-depth look.

At-Home Sleep Study Tests for Your Convenience

Dental sleep medicine continues to evolve along with patients’ needs for sleep apnea relief. The at-home sleep study test is one of those evolutions. What used to take place in a lab under tightly controlled conditions is now a portable sleep study tool that you can use in your home. Together with your primary care physician, Seattle Dental Associates tracks and monitors your breathing and oxygen levels during sleep. We then use this data to plan the best treatment options for your form of sleep apnea.

Contact the Office of Seattle Dental Associates

Do not suffer from sleep apnea any longer. Contact our Seattle dental sleep apnea professionals today at the office of Seattle Dental Associates. We will help you get the restful sleep you deserve.