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Sleep Technologies

Custom oral appliances offer a comfortable, non-CPAP solution for snoring and sleep apnea.

THE SIMPLE SCIENCE BEHIND ORAL SLEEP APPLIANCES

How it works

omnoMed devices are as effective for some patients as a CPAP!

For patients who find their CPAP miserable to wear, inconvenient when traveling, or useless when there is no power, such as when camping, an oral sleep appliance can be a lifesaver.

While the way a CPAP works to help you keep breathing seems fairly obvious – using air pressure to hold your airway open – an oral appliance may seem a little bit more mysterious. How can a tiny oral appliance keep your airway from closing – especially when you are fast asleep

It’s actually pretty simple:
Both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are caused by a collapse of the soft tissues or the tongue into the airway, blocking it and keeping you from taking a proper breath. But more and more research is showing that oral appliances like the ProSomnus Sleep and Snore Devices work amazingly well by gently advancing your lower jaw and keeping it in a slightly forward position.

TREATING OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA WITH CUSTOM ORAL DEVICES

Snoring/Sleep Apnea Therapy

There are two primary types of sleep apnea, both of which pose potentially serious health risks when left untreated:

Obstructive sleep apnea – This is the more common form that occurs when the soft tissues of the throat relax, compressing the airway.
Central sleep apnea – The uncommon type of sleep apnea that occurs when your brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Sleep apnea is a very serious health condition, and many sufferers have no idea they have this problem. Why? The attacks happen while you sleep, making it almost impossible to detect unless your spouse tells you about your snoring. At Lakebrink-Mitts Dental in Liberty, MO, Kansas City, MO, we can help diagnose your obstructive sleep apnea and provide sleep apnea therapy to prevent these attacks.

So, what is obstructive sleep apnea? When the airway becomes blocked while you’re sleeping, it can cause long pauses in breathing, which usually last between 20 to 40 seconds. How do you know if you have obstructive sleep apnea? Symptoms include:

Restlessness during sleep
Loud snoring
Daytime drowsiness
Chronic fatigue
Insomnia
Mood fluctuations
Headaches
Increased nighttime wakefulness
Frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom

These symptoms can be signs of other problems, but if you experience these issues and have found no other explanation, contact Lakebrink-Mitts Dental and let Dr. Thomas Lakebrink, Dr. D. Alexander Mitts, Dr. Ise d’Angelo, and Dr. Nika d’Angelo explore the possibility that your problem could be obstructive sleep apnea.

If we discover that you do, indeed, suffer from sleep apnea, we’ll fabricate an intraoral device just for you designed to open up the airway and keep it clear for steady breathing. You’ll be able to sleep soundly once again, and your health will be protected. Sleep apnea doesn’t just cause annoyance and chronic fatigue – it can also contribute to heart problems and other serious health complications.