Sleep Solutions in Baton Rouge, LA
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes a person’s breathing to be interrupted while they are asleep. It is much more common than many people realize. The most common sleep apnea treatment is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This works for most people but not for everyone, so there are several other options. At The Smile Spa, we offer a sleep application therapy known as oral appliance therapy.
Whether oral appliance therapy is right for you depends on the severity of your sleep apnea and the kind of sleep apnea you have. The three types of sleep apnea are obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is when partial or complete physical blockage of your airway takes place while you are asleep. This means that the soft tissue at the back of your throat collapses to halt or reduce the flow of air.
Central sleep apnea occurs when there is a nervous system dysfunction. Your brain and nervous system fail to tell your muscles to breathe in air. Many patients suffer from mixed sleep apnea, a combination of central and obstructive causes. Oral application therapy is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea. It can be prescribed by your dentist often in consultation with your doctor.