What are sleep appliances?

A sleep appliance is an oral appliance, similar to a mouth guard, that our knowledgeable dentist may recommend to treat sleep apnea or bruxism. We provide custom-made sleep appliances in Herndon, Virginia to protect your teeth from damage and to improve your overall health. Sleep appliances are worn only while you sleep; we will ensure that your sleep appliance fits comfortably so you can sleep peacefully through the night.

How do you treat sleep apnea?

A sleep appliance can be used to effectively treat sleep apnea, which is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder. Sleep apnea involves breathing interruptions during sleep, which are caused by airway obstructions. If you snore loudly or experience frequent morning headaches or excessive daytime drowsiness, you may suffer from sleep apnea. The sleep appliance works to treat sleep apnea by holding your tongue and/or jaw in a position that prevents airway obstructions. This allows you to breathe continuously through the night.

How do you treat bruxism?

Bruxism, which is also known as teeth grinding and clenching, can also be treated through the diligent use of a sleep appliance. The sleep appliance fits over your teeth and prevents nighttime teeth grinding and clenching. A sleep appliance can effectively prevent the consequences of bruxism, including tension headaches and extremely worn teeth.

For more information on sleep appliances, we invite you to contact us at Sunrise Valley Dental today!