Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT):

Don't continue to let sleep apnea dictate your life, talk to Dr. Anna Lee and her team for a free consultation on an oral dental device and take your life back. 

·       Oral Appliance Therapy is an effective, non-invasive treatment that fits easily into your lifestyle.  Patients like     

  Oral Appliance Therapy because it is:

-comfortable, easy to wear,

-quiet

-portable, convenient for travel

-easy to care for

Oral Appliance Therapy my cause side effects:  soreness of the mouth, saliva build-up, nausea, and damage or permanent change in position of the jaw, teeth and mouth.

Glendora dentist, Dr. Anna Lee, is a trained dentist in sleep apnea who can assist you with treatment.  Dr. Anna Lee conducts a full evaluation of your teeth, mouth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to ensure that your teeth and jaw structure are healthy enough to wear an oral appliance.  Following the examination, you will have models of your teeth made and a follow-up appointment is scheduled to fit your custom oral appliance.  Please visit our sleep website at www.glendorasleep.com

Holiday Tips for Healthy Teeth

  

                              

Glendora Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Anna Lee, recommends that everyone brush their teeth and gums at least twice a day for at least 2 minutes each time.  Flossing should be done at least once a day.  During the holidays, brush and floss even more often, particularly right after eating sweets and desserts or drinking wine and alcohol. The longer food stays on your teeth the more opportunity it has to create dental problems for a lifetime.

Foods that have a higher concentration in sugar and carbohydrates are more likely to stick to the teeth for longer periods of time. Not only can brushing and flossing help keep your smile healthy, consuming fruits and vegetables in between consuming unhealthy snacks can remove food from the surface of the teeth.

Keep sugar free gum in your purse or on you. Chewing on a piece of sugar free gum in between brushing can help to remove food from the teeth. It is also a great way to keep your mouth from drying out. A dry mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to cavities and other dental problems.

Contact Dr. Lee and her team for more information on how to keep your smile healthy during the holiday season.

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) for Sleep Apnea

Oral appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea continue to increase in popularity for many sleep apnea sufferers.  Over 100 different oral appliances are FDA approved for the treatment of sleep apnea.  These appliances are worn in the mouth, just like a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic appliance while sleeping.  Oral appliances hold the lower jaw forward just enough to keep the airway open and prevent the tongue and muscles in the upper airway from collapsing and blocking the airway. Two common oral appliances are the mandibular repositioning device and the tongue retaining device.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) as the first line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea. The AASM also recommends oral appliances for patients with severe sleep apnea, who are unable to tolerate or cannot wear Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices.

Benefits of Oral Appliance Therapy:

·       Ease of use - Some patients prefer oral appliances because they can be easy to wear. For most patients it takes a few weeks to get used to sleeping with an oral appliance in their mouth.

·       Small and easy to transport for travel - unlike CPAP, oral appliances are small enough to fit in the purse or carry-on bag.

*Oral Appliance Therapy may cause side effects: soreness of the mouth, saliva build-up, nausea, and damage or permanent change in position of the jaw, teeth and mouth.

For more information contact Dr. Lee and her team at http://www.glendorasleep.com/

Signs & Symptoms

One of the most common signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is loud and chronic, ongoing snoring.  Pauses may occur in the snoring.  Choking or gasping may follow the pauses. Another common sign of sleep apnea is fighting sleepiness during the day, at work, or while driving.                                                                

 Other signs and symptoms:               

·       morning headaches

·       memory or learning problems, not able to concentrate

·       irritable, depressed, mood swings, personality changes

·       wake up frequently to urinate

·       dry mouth or sore throat when wake up

*Note: Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.

*Note: Not everyone who has sleep apnea snores.

Sleep apnea can impact more than just your sleep. It can decrease your longevity, cause depression and decrease your chance of promotions.

For more information on sleep apnea, contact Dr. Lee & her team today.