Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a common treatment for sleep apnea, but it’s not the only solution. If you suffer from sleep apnea (or live with someone who does), you know that the chronic snoring that often results can be extremely disruptive to everyone’s sleep and overall quality of life as a result. There are a number of factors that contribute to sleep apnea, and making certain lifestyle adjustments in addition to getting treatment can make all the difference in your quality of life and health.
At Sokoly Dental we offer snoring therapy with oral appliances to help our sleep apnea patients (and their loved ones) breathe and enjoy a good night’s sleep in Washington, D.C.
The occasional bout of snoring doesn’t necessarily mean that you have sleep apnea, but if you do suffer from sleep apnea, chances are that chronic snoring has become a problem for you and anyone who sleeps within earshot. Obstructive sleep apnea (the most common type) causes the muscles in the throat to relax while you sleep, which blocks your airway and interrupts the flow of oxygen.
You may not be aware that you’ve stopped breathing or even know that you’re snoring, but the cycle repeats itself multiple times throughout the night. So even if a person suffering from sleep apnea gets “enough” hours of sleep every night, they don’t wake up feeling restored or refreshed because the sleep cycle is continuously interrupted throughout the night.
Keeping the airway open and unobstructed while you sleep is the main focus of sleep apnea treatment. Dr. Sokoly starts with a comprehensive evaluation to get to the root of your snoring and find the best solution for your sleep apnea. Oral appliance therapy is an alternative to CPAP. Similar to a mouthguard, it’s minimally invasive and fits over your teeth to ensure that your jaw and tongue remain in position while you sleep so that your airway stays open and the oxygen can flow freely.
Many sleep apnea sufferers find the CPAP mask obtrusive and difficult to adjust to, which can lead to skipping treatment and additional health risks. If you have mild to moderate sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy may be a good alternative for you and provide relief from snoring and other sleep apnea symptoms and side effects.
Are chronic snoring and other sleep apnea symptoms wreaking havoc on your lifestyle and health? Contact us at Sokoly Dental today to learn more about snoring therapy and CPAP alternatives in Washington, D.C. by calling 202-280-2428 to schedule an appointment. You can also book an appointment with Dr. Sokoly through our online scheduling portal.
