Sleep Apnea Treatment in Hemet, CA
People seeking sleep apnea treatment in Hemet, CA, know how frustrating and challenging of a problem the disorder can be. Obstructive sleep apnea is a variation where the throat muscles relax while an individual is asleep, resulting in the airway being crushed or suppressed. The overall result is that the patient stops breathing, resulting in choking or being awoken in the night.
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea don’t realize that a qualified dentist is capable of helping them through oral appliance therapy, which focuses on realigning the jaws to stop disruptions. Our dentist at Glenn C. DelaRoca DDS is skilled in screening for and providing oral appliance therapy to sleep apnea patients.
What Is Oral Appliance Therapy?
Oral appliance therapy is when a device similar to a mouthguard is created for the patient to use when sleeping. The appliance rests in the mouth and either readjust the alignment of the jaws or prevents the tongue from falling back. Both can be used to stop obstructive sleep apnea.
The Procedure
As with all dental procedures, the first step to receiving treatment is identifying a dentist and scheduling an appointment for a screening. Our dentist will examine the structure of the jaw and will take x-rays to help determine if a misalignment is causing sleeping issues. If so, we can refer you to a sleep specialist.
If an oral appliance might help, a mold is made of the mouth. A temporary appliance is given to the patient while the permanent is made. Around two weeks later, the patient can be fitted with the new appliance, which must be worn when the patient sleeps. It might be uncomfortable at first, but individuals should stick to the treatment to see results.
Who Can Seek Help from a Dentist?
Before contacting us for oral appliance therapy, patients need to receive an official diagnosis from a medical physician that states they suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. We cannot provide a diagnosis for sleep apnea, but we can work your sleep specialist to provide oral appliance therapy.
Not everyone responds well to oral appliance therapy, so our Hemet dentist needs to determine whether or not jaw misalignment is a potential cause of throat muscle relaxation. If it is, then oral appliance therapy can begin. Contact our office staff at Glenn C. DelaRoca DDS for more information or questions concerning potential sleep apnea treatment in Hemet. We also welcome patients from our surrounding locations like East Hemet, San Jacinto, Egan, Ramona Bowl, and Lake Crest Estates.