Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea affects millions of people worldwide, but even more alarmingly, many of them don’t even realize that they are at risk. It’s one of those conditions that can fly under the radar since its symptoms are either missed or misdiagnosed as general fatigue. According to findings published in the Sleep Journal, having severe sleep apnea could triple the risk of death from medical cause. Heart disease or stroke accounts for 42% of these deaths, and neglecting to treat sleep apnea only makes matters worse.
Getting diagnosed and finding the right treatment could drastically cut down your risk. With Luna Wellness Centre, you can undergo a simple test right in your bed to determine whether you have sleep apnea and take the next step towards symptom-free sleep.
How is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are a few different ways to treat sleep apnea, and the best method for you depends on your unique situation. The most common treatments include using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, trying an oral appliance, or in some cases, surgery.
There are different types of sleep apnea—obstructive, central, or a combination of both—and CPAP works well for each. These machines use air to keep your airways open during sleep. They maintain a constant level of air pressure all through the night, so you don’t have apnea episodes, i.e., interruptions in your breathing.
Taking this into account, barely 50% of patients who are prescribed CPAP continue with it because it can feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic. If you can tolerate CPAP, you should continue using it, but if you can’t, there is another equally effective option: oral appliance therapy.
Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea Treatment
An oral or dental appliance works just like a mouthguard used for playing sports. It keeps your jaw positioned to keep the airway open so your body doesn’t struggle to breathe smoothly. Our oral appliances at Luna Wellness Centre are also Health Canada-approved, which means you can rely on their quality and outcomes.
The most common type of appliance we use are mandibular advancement devices (MADs), which cleverly move your lower jaw slightly forward. Such a simple adjustment does wonders: it tightens the soft tissue and muscles of the upper airway, thus preventing them from blocking your airway as you sleep. Not only does this make for a quieter night (reduced snoring), but it also ensures your body gets the oxygen it needs without interruption.
It’s a straightforward yet effective solution that has made a huge difference in the sleep quality of our patients without the need for CPAP or surgery.
How We Get to the Root of Your Sleep Issues
First things first, we need to understand what is disrupting your sleep. This could be any of the following factors:
You have a larger tongue but a smaller mouth or lower jaw
Your lower jaw is set back relative to the upper jaw (retrognathia)
Your tonsils are too large for your throat (this is common in children)
You have a thick or elongated soft palate and/or a naturally larger uvula
You have a deviated septum
You suffer from allergies or sinus issues (these can narrow down your nasal passages)
Your neck circumference is a little larger (greater than 17 inches in men and 16 inches in women)
The muscles around your airway have weakened because of age or an underlying medical condition
Once you complete the contact form, we will schedule a call to learn about your symptoms and health history. If a home sleep test could help, you can complete one from the comfort of your home. We will have another chat to review your test outcomes and discuss the next steps. If an oral appliance seems right, we will call you for an in-person dental scan to take measurements and fabricate the appliance accordingly.
We monitor you through regular follow-ups to see how you are adjusting to the appliance and how well it is working. Throughout this process, we are with you every step of the way because our goal is not to send you home with a dental device but to make sure you are reaching the restorative sleep stages each night.
Have Questions? Contact Us Today
At Luna Wellness Centre, we are here to help you!
We are conveniently located in Grande Prairie and see patients from Sexsmith, Wembley, Beaverlodge, Hythe, and nearby communities in northwestern Alberta. Contact our team to get started today.