Sleep Apnea Appliances in Weston Florida

Dr. Stephen J. Pyle, Weston’s first dentist, has expanded the services offered by his dental practice to include oral appliance therapy.

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that goes mostly undiagnosed; an unfortunate reality in that sleep apnea is potentially life threatening. Dr. Pyle has the training, experience and certification to screen for sleep apnea and recommend likely sufferers to sleep disorder specialists for diagnosis. Working closely with the patient’s sleep specialist Dr. Pyle creates oral appliances to optimize their effectiveness allowing the patient to get a full night of restful sleep and minimizing the serious health risks associated with sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is the blockage of the airway caused by the tongue or soft tissue in the palate that reduces or cuts off oxygen to the blood stream. When a person with the condition snores they are reacting to the interruption in normal breathing and are basically gasping for air. Eventually the person will wake up and normal breathing will resume, however this “waking up” can occur many times during a night’s sleep reducing the restorative value of sleeping.

The risks of sleep apnea include heart attack, stroke, diabetes, early onset of Alzheimer’s, as well as fatigue, an inability to focus and depression. Sleep apnea needs to be treated and the oral appliance is far more patient friendly than the alternatives.

Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Basically there are four ways to treat sleep apnea. For some patients the answer is surgery while for others with mild cases can resolve the issue through weight loss. Most patients were prescribed the CPAP therapy, which involves sending pressurized air through the nose via a mask connected to a hose that in turn connects with an electric pump. While CPAP is almost 100% effective, fewer than 25% of the patients stay with the therapy over a year because of the intrusive nature.

Oral appliances are designed to treat sleep apnea in a manner that does not interfere with a patient’s normal sleep habits. Dr. Pyle custom fits this comfortable two-piece acrylic appliance to fit your teeth and mouth perfectly. It’s effective, discreet and most importantly, allows the patient to sleep on their side, their back or even cuddle up with their partner without getting wrapped up in a hose or wearing a mask.

If you are not getting the sleep you need and you are frequently snoring loudly, visit our Weston dental office for a sleep apnea scan. Don’t put your health at risk; call for an appointment today!