My teeth were starting to deteriorate, and I was running out of options to repair them. The dentist gave me a choice. I could wait until the bone loss was so bad that I would have to have my teeth removed and get dentures, or I could have them removed now and get dental implants. I opted for the implants. If you’re thinking of getting dental implants, you probably have a lot of questions. I love mine, but they took some getting used to. In this blog, I’m sharing my experience and all the information that I picked up throughout my implant experience. You can find out what the procedure entails, how to prepare for your implants, and how to care for them once they’re in.
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Many people suffer from sleep apnea. The condition, which can cause a person to start and stop breathing repeatedly during the night, can rob sufferers of a good night's rest. As a result, people with sleep apnea may find that they are overly tired during the day and have difficulty concentrating or performing daily tasks.
Some people who have sleep apnea treat their condition using a continuous airflow machine. However, the machine is bulky, noisy, and requires a source of power to work. Additionally, the airflow treatment requires the wearing of a mask as you sleep.
Some sleep apnea sufferers are choosing dental appliances to treat their conditions. Here are a few dental treatments for sleep apnea.
Appliances That Advance Your Mandible
Mandible-advancing sleep apnea devices are formed from hard plastic that is molded to allow the devices to fit over your upper and lower teeth. These advancement devices also include screws and hinges. The dentist can tighten the screws to allow the device to advance your lower jaw into a forward position. With the jaw in a forward position, you are unlikely to experience episodes of respiratory cessation throughout the night.
For this treatment option, the dentist creates a mold of your mouth. The mold is used as a guide to design a mandibular advancement device that is customized to the contours of your mouth.
Sleep Apnea Mouth Guards
Sleep apnea mouth guards also change the positioning of your lower jaw. Many of these devices still start with an impression of your teeth, but the impression may be created by boiling the device and then biting down to form the dental impression. As the softened plastic takes on the impression of your teeth, the appliance is customized.
Still, if you are uncomfortable with boiling and biting down on the appliance, your dentist can take a mold of your mouth in the office and send the impression to a dental laboratory to have the guard created.
Tongue-retention Devices
For people with sleep apnea, when the soft tissues of the mouth relax, the tissues can collapse into their airways to stop breathing. A tongue retention device prevents the tongue from collapsing towards the throat.
Devices that retain the tongue are made of soft plastic and are placed around the lingual organ, keeping it from moving backward during the night. Although these devices are effective, they can sometimes dry out the mouth.
If you are interested in learning more about treatment for sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.
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