Sleep Apnea Dentist
By Steve Hill
Many of the underlying causes of sleep apnea can presently be tackled with by a sleep apnea dentist; there is
even a medical branch known as dental sleep dentistry that has known an increase in the number of specialists over
the last decade.
Medical practice has shown that sleep apnea may be caused by certain dental and mandibular problems that can be
corrected by the surgical or non-surgical intervention of a dentist. Thus, there are all sorts of dental appliances
used for the maintenance of a proper opening of the airways and only a sleep apnea dentist can recommend and design
one for you.
In case the apnea patient suffers from a jaw deformity or mandibular deficiency that prevents the correct
opening of the airways in a deep relaxation state, a sleep apnea dentist will have to create a special appliance to
be worn at night.
Such a device would either pull the tongue forward or adjust the position of the jaw so that the air flow may
pass unhindered towards the lungs. It should be said nevertheless, that the apnea dentist solutions usually work
for the mild and moderate sleep breathing cessation problems, as the more severe cases require other forms of
medical intervention.
After close medical investigations a sleep apnea dentist will tell you what type of oral device best matches
your condition. The two most popular such devices include the splint and the mandibular advancement device.
The former holds the tongue in a position that allows the air to pass unhindered; this is mainly used for people
who suffer from apnea caused by too large a tongue as compared to the diameter of the airways.
The latter is a device that forces the jaw in a lower position, thus creating enough room for the air flow; the
only problem with the mandibular device consists in the eventual jaw pain after its usage.
Regular visits to the sleep apnea dentist may be necessary particularly if you experience discomfort after the
trial period is over. If you don't get used to an oral apnea device within a fortnight, contact the sleep apnea
dentist and see how you can improve the situation.
Do not purchase any type of apnea appliance since such items require a certain size and molding design that is
unique for each individual. A general model will surely be very uncomfortable, even if you'd think it a real
bargain.
Steve Hill is a webmaster from Birmingham, he has interests in a number of websites including: stuttering, stuttering therapy, sleep apnea
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