TMJ and Sleep Apnea San Francisco
The goal of sleep apnea treatment is to alleviate your restless nights in a comfortable and effective manner, thereby likely reducing the health risks associated with sleep apnea and lack of sleep.Treatment options often include lifestyle changes, oral appliances or Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) devices or in extreme cases, surgery.For patients who are intolerant or incapable of using CPAP, or whose cases are not severe enough, Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) is a highly effective alternative. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine maintains that OAT is a first line defense option for Mild to Moderate Sleep Apnea, or for Severe Apneics who cannot use CPAP.
Oral Appliance devices work to reposition a patient’s jaw during sleep, to alleviate snoring and allow for a more peaceful night’s sleep. After a thorough consultation and a debrief of your medical history, your San Francisco sleep apnea expert Dr. Larson can help you decide the best treatment to relieve your sleep apnea symptoms today!
Sleep Apnea Treatment: Oral Appliance Therapy San Francisco
Okay, I snore, so what? Well, while you might think snoring isn’t something to be concerned about, you might want to think again. Frequent, loud snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a common and potentially serious disorder in which breathing stops and starts as you sleep. Being able to distinguish between snoring and sleep apnea is important so that you can get the best treatment available without waiting any longer.
Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) San Francisco
In the first official joint guideline by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), oral appliance therapy is a recommended form of treatment for adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are CPAP intolerant, or prefer an alternate therapy option. This new guideline supports an increase in teamwork between physicians and dentists to provide proper treatment for sleep apnea. Currently, the largest number of patients suffering from sleep apnea is in the mild to moderate categories, and should be treated with oral appliances.
While CPAP therapy is still the first-line option for treating OSA, oral appliance therapy is an effective alternative that is preferred by many patients. Despite the fact that treatment with a CPAP machine is extremely successful, there are a number of patients who cannot or choose not to wear the facemask with the attached air compressor. When patients are CPAP non-compliant, oral appliance therapy can be a good option.
For these patients, oral appliances provided by our Sleep Apnea expert at San Francisco Center for TMJ and Sleep Apnea, trained in dental sleep medicine, are proving to be an excellent treatment option. There are dozens of types and San Francisco TMJ and Sleep Specialist Dr. Larson will choose the right treatment for each individual’s needs. Types of oral appliances currently available for the treatment of sleep apnea include:
To find out more about oral appliance therapy and how Dr. Larson, your San Francisco Sleep Apnea expert, can help in treatment of snoring and sleep apnea, contact our office today. With custom treatment options available, you can rest easy knowing there is relief from sleep apnea in San Francisco.
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