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Sleep Apnea Treatment – South Portland, ME

Finally Get the Quality
of Rest You Deserve
& Improve Your Health

Man and woman on a bike ride filled with energy thanks to sleep apnea treatment

According to the American Sleep Apnea Association, an estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and only about 20 percent of those obstructive sleep apnea cases are actually diagnosed. What many people may not know about this condition is that, although it seems like a mere inconvenience, it can actually have a drastic impact on your physical and mental health. At Mind Your Mouth, we’re proud to offer customized sleep apnea treatment for South Portland, ME dental patients that doesn’t involve a cumbersome CPAP machine.

Why Choose Mind Your Mouth for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

  • Custom-Crafted
    Sleep Apnea Appliances
  • Easy At-Home
    Sleep Testing
  • Individualized Treatment
    to Fit Your Needs

At-Home Sleep Testing

Patient using at home sleep testing system

If you find yourself frequently waking up throughout the night gasping for air or feeling regularly fatigued, even after getting a full eight hours of sleep, visit our dental office to get to the bottom of what’s going on. We offer at-home sleep testing that’s a convenient, easy, and cost-effective way to find out what’s making you feel the way you do. Essentially, it’s a small breathing monitor that tracks your breath and oxygen levels throughout the night to provide a sleep technologist with enough information to assess your condition.

How We Treat Sleep Apnea

Man placing custom sleep apnea appliance

Once you’re diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, our team will take all of the information we know and use that to construct a customized treatment plan. At Mind Your Mouth, we use ProSomnus and SomnoMed oral appliances to treat obstructive sleep apnea, so patients won’t need to use a noisy or uncomfortable CPAP machine. It’s a specially designed mouthguard that you’ll put on at night to help open your airways and keep you from being deprived of oxygen throughout the evening.

Sleep Apnea (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) FAQs

Older couple sleeping peacefully in bed

Dr. Parét and our team are passionate about helping patients find freedom from the dangers and inconveniences created by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Before you schedule a consultation with us, though, you may want to learn more about this condition and how it is treated. To assist you, we have compiled the following list of FAQs. If you do not see your specific concerns addressed, please reach out to us directly.

Why Should I See a Dentist for Sleep Apnea Treatment?

At first, it may seem odd that a dentist could offer sleep apnea treatment. However, it is important to keep in mind that dentists are experts in much more than just the teeth. They are intimately familiar with facial anatomy and the structures in the upper airway. Dentists are therefore uniquely qualified to design oral appliances that can correctly reposition the lower jaw to allow for uninterrupted sleep.

Plus, because you should regularly visit your dentist anyway, you have a convenient, built-in appointment where you can express concerns about the quality of your sleep and receive guidance on how to find relief.

Does Everyone Who Snores Have Sleep Apnea?

No. Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea and not everyone with sleep apnea snores. Snoring is nothing more than the sound that is created when air brushes past tissues in the airway. By itself, it is harmless. However, it is often connected to OSA because the same tissues that vibrate during snoring can periodically block the airway and cause apneas (periods of not breathing). Frequent, loud snoring is often a big sign that OSA is present.

If you are concerned that your snoring, or that of your partner, is a sign of OSA, you should seek proper testing so you can start to explore treatment options.

Can I Diagnose Sleep Apnea on My Own?

Even if you are exhibiting symptoms of OSA, that does not mean you have it. Even data from an Apple Watch or another smart device is not enough to diagnose OSA (even though such information can alert you to the need for professional care). It is important to undergo a sleep test so an expert can analyze your vital signs while you are asleep.

Will My Sleep Apnea Go Away If I Lose Weight?

Being overweight is a major risk factor for OSA. That is because excess fat around the throat and abdomen can interfere with breathing and increase the risk of nighttime respiratory problems. Some patients can significantly reduce or even eliminate their OSA symptoms after losing as little as 5 – 10% of their body weight.

Of course, losing weight is not a guarantee that your sleep apnea will go away. OSA can be caused by numerous issues, some of which are entirely unrelated to body weight and composition.

Will Oral Appliance Therapy Make CPAP Therapy Unnecessary?

Remember that with CPAP therapy, the machine will physically force air through your airways while you wear the mask throughout the night. However, while the treatment is incredibly effective, only about 50% of patients who are prescribed CPAP therapy ever use it! In many mild to moderate sleep apnea cases, an oral appliance can be used to replace the CPAP machine. Still, if your situation is more severe, then an oral appliance may not work as effectively by itself. Consult your sleep doctor and dentist to determine the best treatment to help you get the rest you need.

Can Children Have Sleep Apnea?

Around 1-8% of all children indeed experience sleep apnea. Even so, kids who struggle with this condition may also have different symptoms compared to adults. These can involve complications such as sleep terrors, bed-wetting, inability to focus, attention or learning problems, and hyperactivity. If you have a child or a loved one who might be experiencing interrupted sleeping, they should follow the same process as adults, which is to visit a sleep doctor for a sleep study to determine the best treatment based on their needs.

How Soon After Starting Sleep Apnea Treatment Will I Notice Improvement?

If you’re using a CPAP machine for your sleep apnea therapy, it may take some time to grow accustomed to wearing the mask throughout the night. This is especially because the machine is quite loud, especially for light sleepers. By wearing an oral appliance for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you should expect better sleep right away. Still, it could take a night or two to get used to having it in your mouth. The only way to know for certain if your treatment is working is to undergo another sleep test. Also, if you notice your symptoms are reducing or subsiding, then this is a great sign!

Are There At-Home Remedies for Sleep Apnea?

There are certainly many products that can potentially help you sleep and relax more, such as essential oils and weighted blankets. Even so, oral appliance or CPAP therapy will typically have a greater impact on the quality of your sleep than anything else. If you’re struggling with this condition, you’ll have to address the fundamental issue by opening up your airways, either with an oral appliance or a CPAP machine. Until you receive these devices, try avoiding looking at your phone just before bed, and make sure to exercise and be active during the day to help you sleep much more easily.

Take Our Sleep Apnea Quiz

As many are aware, self-diagnosing if you have sleep apnea can be quite difficult. The most obvious symptoms occur when you are fast asleep. Our provided STOP-BANG Sleep Apnea Assessment is an easy and quick way to let us know how likely you are to have the disorder. Just complete the questionnaire below, and once you have submitted your answers, our team will evaluate them and be in contact you. If we believe that you are at risk of having sleep apnea, we will invite you in for a consultation.

Yes
No

Snoring

Do you Snore Loudly (loud enough to be heard through closed doors or your bed-partner elbows you for snoring at night)?

Yes
No

Tired

Do you often feel Tired, Fatigued, or Sleepy during the daytime (such as falling asleep during driving or talking to someone)?

Yes
No

Observed

Has anyone Observed you Stop Breathing or Choking/Gasping during your sleep?

Yes
No

Pressure

Do you have or are being treated for High Blood Pressure?

Yes
No

Body Mass Index more than 35 kg/m2?

Not sure what your BMI is? Click here.

Yes
No

Age older than 50?

Yes
No

Neck size large? (Measured around Adams apple)

For male, is your shirt collar 17 inches / 43 cm or larger? For female, is your shirt collar 16 inches / 41 cm or larger?

Yes
No

Gender = Male?

Property of University Health Network.

If you would like our interpretation of your STOP-BANG Questionnaire, please send us the information below. A member of our team will be in touch within 24 hours to discuss your results.

three people smiling together

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