Text (541) 485-0272
Sleep Apnea Treatment Eugene
Wake Up Feeling Refreshed & Well-Rested
Treating snoring or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy can help you feel like a new person. You will find that your symptoms, and your quality of life, can improve dramatically when you remain committed to your treatment and use it nightly. Custom-fit oral appliances for sleep apnea treatment in Eugene from College Hill Dental can improve your sleep, restore your alertness, and revitalize your health.
Why Choose College Hill Dental for Sleep Apnea Treatment?
- Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine
- Compassionate Sleep Dentist with 20+ Years of Experience
- Dental Insurance-Friendly Dental Office
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your muscles relax during sleep, allowing the soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. As a result, sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing up to hundreds of times a night for anywhere from a few seconds to more than a minute. Snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, memory problems, irritability, fatigue, and insomnia are all signs that you could be losing shut-eye to sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea can be a potentially life-threatening condition. It can increase the risk for other serious health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea that fits easily into your lifestyle. A dental oral appliance is worn only during sleep. It supports the jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open upper airway, preventing sleep apnea and snoring.
Once you have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea by a sleep physician, a dentist experienced in dental sleep medicine can make a custom-fitted oral appliance using impressions and models of your teeth. Oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans. Patients like the appliance because it’s comfortable, easy to wear, quiet, portable, convenient for travel, and easy to clean.
If you have concerns about snoring and sleep apnea, it may be time to make an appointment. If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, we can recommend a sleep physician to help get you started on your path to treatment. If you have already been diagnosed with sleep apnea, we can fit you with an oral appliance. Our team at College Hill Dental is ready to answer your questions about obstructive sleep apnea, dental sleep medicine, and oral appliance therapy.
Sleep Apnea FAQs
Can I have sleep apnea even if I don’t snore?
Yes! While one of the most common symptoms of sleep apnea is loud, chronic snoring, many people diagnosed with the condition do not snore or only do so occasionally. This typically occurs as the airway is being closed off on the way to a full blockage. The tissues in the mouth and throat start to vibrate, creating the snoring sound. If snoring isn’t happening, other symptoms like being tired all the time despite getting seven to nine hours of rest, waking up several times throughout the night, morning headaches and sore throats, and issues with memory and weight gain are all telltale signs of sleep apnea.
Will sleep apnea ever go away on its own?
No, in the vast majority of cases, sleep apnea is not something that goes away over time like many illnesses, nor do people “grow out of it.” Frequent stoppages in breathing throughout the night often stem from structural issues in the upper airway (a narrow or weak passage, large tongue, or thick neck, for example), and the other leading cause is excess weight/obesity. While some patients can alleviate sleep apnea symptoms by losing weight, doing so is easier said than done, plus the process can take several months before sleep is meaningfully impacted.
Getting professional treatment right away can help solve someone’s sleep problem now, which can greatly support any additional health goals because they’ll have more focus and energy to do so!
Are oral appliances better for sleep apnea treatment than CPAP therapy?
While CPAP therapy has been proven to be effective in helping patients manage their sleep apnea, studies show that only 50% of people prescribed the machine use it regularly (if at all). Issues with sound, discomfort, and inconvenience are often cited as to why someone isn’t adhering to the treatment.
Oral appliances from a sleep dentist offer a more conservative and simpler approach, which is easier for many patients. This means they use their oral appliance more consistently, leading to better sleep and results over time. It all comes down to which treatment a person is more likely to actually use, and in our experience, many patients who don’t like their CPAP are happy once they switch to an oral appliance.
Do I need a sleep test/study to get sleep apnea treatment?
Yes, before you can receive professional sleep apnea treatment, you must first be officially diagnosed with the condition. This is done by taking a sleep test (also called a sleep study) and then having the results evaluated by a licensed sleep physician. While we do not provide this at our practice, we can help patients receive a sleep test and ensure the results are sent to us quickly thereafter. If you think you have sleep apnea, a sleep test is the first step toward better rest, and we can help you get it done locally so that the process is straightforward and convenient. Simply call our team to get started.
