Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance - dentist Seattle WA

Sleep Apnea

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Sleep disorders are much more common than you may think. According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea affects more than 18 million Americans. This figure is, of course, based on reported instances. Many people may not know they suffer from sleep apnea until their symptoms are reported by a sleep partner. This means the real figure could be much higher. If you think you may have sleep apnea, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible, due to the serious nature of the disorder. At Summit Dental Care, we offer oral appliances to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. An oral appliance can provide you with safer and more restful sleep!

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is characterized by the repeated cessation of breathing during sleep. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form caused by the relaxation of the muscles in the throat.

Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain does not send the proper signals to your breathing muscles. Complex sleep apnea is a combination of both obstructive and central sleep apnea. If you have been told you snore loudly, or feel tired even after a full night's sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Other symptoms include:
• Choking or gasping noises during sleep
• A sore throat or dry mouth in the morning
• Waking up with a dull headache
• Trouble staying asleep
• Irritability
• Trouble paying attention
• Excessive daytime sleepiness

Causes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax. When the muscles relax, your airway narrows as you inhale. In some cases, it may even close. This prevents you from getting enough air, which lowers the oxygen level in your blood. When this happens, the brain sends signals that briefly wake you up to reopen your airway. Most of the time, this is too brief to remember. This pattern can repeat multiple times per hour, all night, preventing you from achieving deep, restful sleep.

How Does an Oral Appliance work?

An oral appliance is typically used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. It works by keeping your jaw and tongue in a forward position, which prevents them from blocking your airway, even after the muscles fully relax.

The appliance, similar to a retainer, clamps on to the teeth in your upper and lower jaws. In some cases, the upper and lower portions are connected with a tube that keeps your lower jaw, chin, and tongue in a forward position. With these parts pushed forward, the airway is kept open, allowing you to breathe properly during every stage of sleep.

Oral appliances are considered easier to use than other options, such as CPAP machines. To fabricate your device, we will take an impression of your teeth and gums. This ensures your custom-fit appliance will be precise, comfortable, and effective. It can also protect your teeth from the harmful effects of nocturnal bruxism (teeth grinding).

Schedule Your Consultation Appointment

If you think you may have sleep apnea, we can help! Call 206-292-9980 to schedule your consultation appointment today!

Seattle Dentist
Dr. Vu and the team are like family! They treat my dental needs and make me feel right at home. When I had a dental emergency they cleared out time to make sure I was taken care of. I knocked 2 teeth out in a bike accident and you can’t even tell!! They also make a great point to support the LGBTQ+ community!

- Scotty C

Dentist In Seattle
Dr. Vu and his staff are not only professional and well organized, they are also very welcoming and personable. They make you feel instantly comfortable the moment you walk in. They are a modern practice with state of the art technology and open to all clientele. Their work is fantastic and my teeth look and feel great.

- Justin P.

Downtown Seattle Dentist
Summit Dental Care: convenient location in downtown Seattle; strong online website and patient portal (e.g., appointments, dental records); reception staff, hygienist, chairside assistants - competent and professional. Most importantly, there is Summit Dental's Dr. Vu, DDS - a very skilled dental professional who seems to genuinely care about the welfare of his patients. A recent dental crisis/emergency was handled without delay; when a tooth is "making its presence known," one doesn't want to hear, "Let me see if we have any openings..."! Dr. Vu replaced my (now retired) dentist of 20+ years - it has been a wise decision to stay with the practice.

- Mark D.

Dentist Downtown Seattle
Dr. Vu is great. He and his staff are all friendly and kind, and I’ve consistently had good experiences at his office. He’s always trying to think of ways to improve patient experience- including offering noise canceling headphones for when you get fillings so you can listen to music or a podcast to distract you from the noise of the drill. Brilliant!

- Lindsay S.

Seattle Family Dentistry
I've been a patient here for 6 years now and Dr. Vu and the team continue to exceed my expectations. They do a great job of listening to you and treat you with the utmost respect. I am so happy here that I keep paying extra for an out-of-Network dental plan. My gum health has improved tremendously and I have reclaimed my smile.

- Michael Z.

NamThien Vu, DDS • Dentist Seattle • Summit Dental Care

Cosmetic Dentist in Seattle WA offering dental implants, sedation dentistry, dentures, mouthguards, tmj treatment & invisalign. Call today! (206) 292-9980

Summit Dental Care, 720 Olive Way Suite #930, Seattle, WA 98101 • 206-292-9980 • summitdentalcareseattle.com • 8/9/2024 • Page Keywords: dentist Seattle WA •

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