Sleep Apnea Doctor in Ashland, MO

Sleep apnea is a form of disordered sleep breathing. There are two types of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea (CSA), which is caused by neurological dysfunction that causes your brain to stop sending signals telling your body to breathe and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is caused by a physical obstruction of your airway during sleep. OSA is much more common than CSA and causes a patient to stop breathing repeatedly throughout their sleep cycle. These breathing stoppages cause loud snoring that is often detrimental to the sleep of bed partners or housemates, in addition to being potentially dangerous to the person suffering from sleep apnea symptoms. Patients will often gasp for air or make choking sounds in their sleep as their body struggles to breathe. Because sleep apnea can increase a patient’s risk for developing other serious medical conditions, it is important to seek medical treatment as soon as a diagnosis has been made.

Many of our patients are initially confused when they realize that the staff at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders consists of both medical and dental professionals. However, our talented dental staff is essential to the work we do in offering sleep apnea sufferers an alternative to traditional CPAP machines as a first line treatment option. Our dental professionals provide patients with an extensive understanding of the anatomy of the mouth and throat, helping you to better understand why you experience sleep apnea symptoms. In addition, they work closely with our doctors throughout the treatment process to deliver customized appliances that are especially designed for each of our patients on an individual basis, so we can correct alignment dysfunction that causes airway obstruction and OSA. Oral appliance therapy has been proven to be a safe and effective method of treatment for patients suffering from sleep apnea who are interested in a simple device that requires virtually zero maintenance.

When you receive an oral appliance to treat your sleep apnea, it will be similar in appearance to a mouth guard. These dental appliances are sometimes referred to as jaw advances devices or mandibular advancement devices and they work to move your lower jaw forward to address airway collapse by improving soft tissue alignment. By naturally supporting a free and open airway, we can improve our patients’ symptoms without bulky machines or surgical intervention. These oral appliances can reduce snoring while helping patients breathe freely all night long.

Our dental appliances are small and discreet, making them perfect for patients who often travel for work or leisure. They are also easier to maintain, even for children who suffer from sleep disordered breathing. While some people may be intimidated by the idea of wearing an oral appliance to bed every night, most find that these devices are far more comfortable than they anticipated and adjust quickly to using  them. Because your appliance is created from a mold of your exact mouth, it is as comfortable as possible, which helps ensure you want to wear it.

If you live in Ashland, MO and are looking for an experienced sleep apnea doctor to provide you with alternatives to a CPAP machine, contact Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders in Columbia, MO today to schedule a sleep apnea consultation.