Treat Sleep Disorders With CPAP Alternatives

There are three forms of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea, during which the brain fails to tell the body to breathe; obstructive sleep apnea, where physical obstructions such as tissues and muscles at the back of the throat block the airway; and mixed sleep apnea, which is a combination of the two other forms.

While central sleep apnea is a neurological response issue, obstructive sleep apnea is sometimes caused by an improper bite and jaw position or narrow airway. When teeth do not fit together correctly or the patient has a narrow palate, there is not enough room in the mouth for the tongue, which falls back and obstructs the airway.

At Synergy Dental Group, we take a multi-faceted, multi-discipline approach to treating obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep breathing conditions. We partner with sleep physicians in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin Counties to offer a dental-medical team approach to whole body health. Our team partners with your sleep physician to create an effective plan for wellness. Our ultimate goal is to help make a long-term difference in our patients’ quality of life.

While there are risks and benefits associated with all sleep treatments, we help facilitate what is best for each individual patient. To determine the best treatment for your needs, we first recommend an overnight sleep study conducted at a sleep lab. Following the diagnosis of a sleep breathing disorder, patients may return to our Sonoma dental office for alternative care. We offer a number of alternative therapies for treating these breathing disorders.

If you are diagnosed, your treatment options include:

  • Oral Appliances – Similar to night guards, these devices reposition your jaw or tongue to keep the airway open during sleep. Common oral appliances include mandibular advancement splints, which reposition the jaw slightly forward, and tongue retaining devices, which hold the tongue forward. Oral appliance therapy acts as both a holding pattern and works as long as the patient is compliant in wearing the device nightly. We only recommend FDA-approved devices for patients diagnosed as good candidates by their sleep physicians.
  • Myofunctional Therapy – This muscle therapy targets the tongue, mouth and muscle position, essentially retraining these independent components to work in harmony. It is especially effective at overcoming obstructed breathing when combined with the  Buteyko Breathing Method,
  • Orthodontics – Some cases may require orthodontic care to enlarge the oral cavity and accommodate the tongue. Addressing alignment problems early with orthodontic intervention can prevent the development of future sleep breathing problem. For your children, pediatric growth guidance techniques may help prevent airway issues. At Synergy Dental Group we assess and treat airways, jaw relationships, and teeth misalignment in patients as young as elementary aged children.
  • Surgical Therapy – Even when combined, oral appliances and CPAP therapy may not be enough to alleviate these breathing disorders. For these patients, removing adenoids, tonsils, and redirecting the uvula or soft palate may be the most effective treatment.

Sleep breathing disorders are complex and require individualized solutions. At Synergy Dental Group, our airway-specific approach helps patients in Sonoma improve their overall health and achieve better sleep.

Call 707-934-3152 or schedule online for an appointment to discuss airway-focused dentistry in Sonoma, CA.