Dentists Help Patients Say Goodnight to Sleep Issues

Posted: Thursday, January 31, 2013 1:55 pm | Updated: 2:36 am, Fri Feb 1, 2013.

Dentists Help Patients Say Goodnight to Sleep Issues NewsUSA@NewsUSA.com (NewsUSA) sedaliademocrat.com

(NewsUSA) - For those who have never consulted a dentist about treatments for sleep apnea and snoring, it may be time to make an appointment. Dental sleep medicine is a growing segment of dentistry that focuses on managing snoring and sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy -- an effective alternative to the standard treatment of the disease, the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and mask. Oral appliance therapy uses a "mouth guard-like" device, worn during sleep, to maintain an open, unobstructed airway.

"Oral appliances are very effective in treating sleep apnea because they maintain an open, unobstructed airway for patients," said B. Gail Demko, DMD, president of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). "Depending on the patient's needs, the device will either hold the tongue in place or support the jaw in a forward position to keep the patient's airway open and provide a more refreshing sleep."