Sleep Appliances

Dental sleep appliances are a portable, silent solution to sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to stop breathing hundreds of times per night. At Doc Bram in Lisle, Illinois, expert dentist Keith Bram, DDS, creates customized sleep appliances to help you get a complete night’s rest and prevent the health problems associated with sleep apnea. Call the office today or book your appointment online to explore the sleep apnea treatment options available. 

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common affliction that causes a person to briefly, but repeatedly, stop breathing during sleep. Each pause lasts just 10 seconds or so, and you experience hundreds of them each night. 

The breath pauses occur because the muscles at the back of your throat collapse, therefore closing your airway. This blocks the flow of oxygen and leads to a buildup of carbon dioxide. When your brain senses this imbalance, it jolts you awake to resume normal breathing.

Patients with sleep apnea aren’t always aware of these awakening episodes, but they quietly do damage to your health. Sleep apnea is associated with conditions like diabetes, heart disease, infertility, and high blood pressure. 

How can sleep appliances help with sleep apnea?

Your partner may complain of heavy, consistent snoring coming from your side of the bed. Other signs of sleep apnea include:

Excessive sleepiness during the day despite spending enough hours in bed

• Waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat, or headache
• Irritability and low-grade fatigue
• Insomnia
• Choking or gasping sounds while sleeping

Persistent sleep apnea prevents you from getting the deep, restful sleep you need for optimal function, concentration, and positive mood.

How do sleep appliances work?

Dr. Bram provides customized sleep appliances as an effective solution for mild to moderate sleep apnea. 

These dental appliances fit into your mouth as you sleep. They move your lower jaw forward to increase the size of your airway. Some restrain the tongue and prevent it from falling backwards to block the airway. As a result, you’re able to breathe steadily as you sleep and not experience the intermittent awakenings and heavy snoring associated with apnea. 

What are the benefits of using sleep appliances?

One of the most commonly recommended treatments for sleep apnea is a bulky, noisy machine called a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). Many people can’t tolerate these machines and end up just living with their sleep apnea and not getting the restful sleep they need. 

A dental sleep appliance offers a quieter, more portable approach. Here are some of the major benefits of sleep appliances: 

• Custom fit
• Easy cleaning
• Manageable to travel with
• No noise or disturbance for your sleep partner

Many patients experience improvements in their sleep apnea symptoms after just one night of using a sleep appliance provided by Dr. Bram.

To get fitted for a sleep appliance, call Doc Bram or book your appointment online today.