Sleep Apnea Dentist – San Diego

San Diego Sleep Apnea Dentist

Our San Diego sleep apnea dentist has been treating patients with sleep apnea and snoring for years. Statistics have shown that 30% of adults snore, but only 5% develop sleep apnea. This means that for every 100 people who snore regularly, 5 of them will eventually develop sleep apnea. There are several reasons for treating patients who snore. One is to improve the quality of sleep not just for the patient, but also for the bed partner. Another reason is to reduce the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. Yet another reason is to prevent medical conditions that occur as a result of untreated snoring (e.g. high blood pressure).

The consequences of untreated sleep apnea are well documented. While CPAP used to be (and still is) the number one recommended therapy for sleep apnea, now there is another alternative. Oral appliances are just as effective in treating mild and moderate sleep apnea patients. One of the main reasons for this shift in therapy is that a very high percentage of apnea patients stop using their CPAP after a short period of time. In fact, most medical doctors don’t have long-term follow-up data on CPAP success because most patients stop using their CPAP within 3-6 months of getting one! The most common reasons patients cannot get used to CPAP are:
* Cannot sleep with a fan blowing air into the nose and mouth.
* The mask is not very comfortable or well-fitting.
* Too noisy
* Cumbersome
* Embarrassing!

Oral Appliance Therapy

San Diego sleep apnea dentist uses oral appliances to treat sleep apnea

Our San Diego sleep apnea dentist uses dental appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea because of their comfort and ease of use. The patient is able to use the dental device instead of the CPAP machine. And more importantly, the patient will probably use it more because it is more comfortable and less bulky than the CPAP. The oral appliances come in many designs. In prescribing the appliance it is important to use the proper one for the best outcome.

These devices are custom-made one at a time. The process involves having various impressions, photos, X-rays, and other records to fabricate a well-fitting appliance.