Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that causes pauses in breathing frequently while sleeping. More than 200,000 cases of the disorder are diagnosed in the United States each year. The complications from an obstruction in the airway causes a significant decrease in your quality of life. If left untreated, potentially deadly consequences can develop. If you have recently been diagnosed with the condition, you might find it odd that you have been referred to a dentist in Cary for treatment. However, a dentist for sleep apnea plays a vital role in treating the condition effectively.
Why Do I Need a Dentist for Sleep Apnea?
To begin treatment for sleep apnea in Cary, your physician must complete a medical evaluation and diagnosis. This involves evaluating the symptoms and diagnosing the severity of the disorder through a sleep study. After a diagnosis has been provided, the information for a prescription is sent to Dr. Koch for an oral appliance.
An oral appliance is a custom-made device that repositions the jaw forward. By doing so, the airways are kept open to prevent pauses in breathing. However, before the appliance is made, you need a clinical examination and x-rays by the dentist. This is needed to evaluate your oral health while determining the oral appliance that will best meet your needs. Your physician is not qualified to handle these aspects of treatment, which is why a dentist in necessary.
After Dr. Koch completes the evaluation, he sends his findings to your physician with the treatment recommendations and after-care needed. Dr. Koch will then provide you with a consent form to begin treatment to create the custom-made appliance.
Once the appliance is made, Dr. Koch will need to calibrate and adjust the device based on your specific needs. This ensures it is effective for keeping the upper airways open while enhancing your comfort through an ideal fit.
In some cases, it may be recommended that another sleep study is performed to ensure the appliance is working as intended or to monitor your treatment. Based on the result, additional adjustments may be required. If the results find that the appliance is not fully treating your sleep apnea, Dr. Koch may refer you back to your physician for alternative treatments, such as a CPAP machine.
While treating your sleep apnea, you can expect follow up appointments every six months with your dentist. At the end of your first year, you will only require follow-up care annually. These appointments are necessary to ensure the device is still functioning as intended while monitoring the symptoms of the sleep disorder.
Where Can I Find a Dentist for Sleep Apnea?
Dr. Koch provides treatment for sleep apnea to protect your health and quality of life. By working with your physician, he will create an effective form of treatment using the most preferred options, including oral appliances.
If you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, regain a restful night’s sleep with an oral appliance. Contact Dr. Koch today to schedule a consultation.
