Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea that supports healthy breathing and uninterrupted sleep

At Complete Health Dentistry of SoCal in Poway, California, we are genuinely committed to your “complete health.” Led by Dr. Erela Katz Rappaport, our team works closely with sleep specialists and other medical professionals to resolve obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In doing so, we prevent and protect against the many devastating health effects associated with this common condition.

Sleep Apnea Explained

The name for this condition is defined as “cessation of breath while sleeping.” This process occurs when the airway becomes obstructed by the tongue and other lax tissues of the throat. Pauses in breathing happen multiple times throughout the night. OSA is also characterized by:

Abrupt awakening
Loud snoring
Gasping or choking sounds when suddenly reawakening
Chronic headaches
Bruxism (teeth grinding and jaw clenching)
Daytime fatigue, no matter how long you have slept the night before
Memory loss
Impaired concentration
Irritability

Risk Factors

More men than women are diagnosed with OSA. Excess fat surrounding the upper airway can be obstructive. Individuals with a history of chronic nasal congestion, allergies, and asthma are also at increased risk of developing sleep apnea. Certain medications, alcohol use, and smoking are associated with OSA, as is a family history of sleep apnea.

Complications

Individuals with OSA are at increased risk of injuries sustained on the job or the road due to chronic fatigue. Additionally, the lack of proper oxygenation during sleep takes a considerable toll on the heart, brain, and other organs. So, it is essential for those diagnosed with OSA to get appropriate, effective treatment and to do so promptly.

Treatment Options

As noted, Dr. Rappaport has considerable experience working with sleep specialists and managing and treating OSA and associated conditions. While CPAP therapy is an effective treatment for many patients, it has a low compliance rate. Some patients simply never get used to wearing a nasal mask or the noise associated with this machine. CPAP machines also require special care and are not easy to transport.

Oral appliance therapy presents an alternative that is:

Easy to wear
Easy to care for
Portable
Effective

Because these special oral appliances are comfortable, they have a high compliance rate. They resemble retainers or other oral devices, such as night guards and sports guards. Made from impressions or scans of your mouth, these oral devices slide onto your teeth. When worn while sleeping, they reposition the jaw. In repositioning the jaw, there is now room for the tongue so that it no longer obstructs the airway. Patients breathe and sleep uninterrupted through the night.

Start The Process Today … For Your Complete Health!

Sleep specialists or other physicians essentially provide patients with a prescription. From there, with a proper sleep apnea diagnosis in hand, Dr. Rappaport and her team can move forward with planning and designing your oral appliance. Due to our considerable expertise in sleep-disordered breathing, we can determine the best appliance for you. There are 100-plus such FDA-cleared devices.

OSA is not a condition that you want to sleep on. So, call us today at (858) 726-5554 with your concerns or questions and schedule an appointment at our office in Poway.