Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition affecting over 18 million Americans. A common sleep disorder, sleep apnea is characterized by breathing cessation that occurs for 10 seconds or longer, multiple times during sleep. This oxygen deprivation can have harmful effects on the body and psyche. Sleep apnea is caused by soft tissue falling into the oral airway during sleep and is a real danger to your health when left untreated. If you or a loved one may have sleep apnea, our team at 8118 Dental Professionals can help. Our doctors have advanced knowledge of sleep apnea and as American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine members, are committed to helping Austin, TX, patients effectively manage the condition.
A sleep apnea condition is confirmed by a physician through a home- or lab-based sleep study. For moderate to severe cases, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is usually the recommended course of treatment. In less severe cases, or when CPAP cannot be tolerated, our doctors treat Austin, TX, patients with oral appliance therapy. Oral appliances are similar to mouthguards, and are custom-fit to keep the lower jaw and tongue in a more forward position during sleep. The result is improved quality of sleep, reduced snoring and significantly less risk of soft tissue collapsing into the throat area. Treating sleep apnea also helps minimize health risks associated with the sleep disorder.
