Sleep Apnea Treatment in Sandpoint, Idaho

What is Sleep Apnea (Definition, Causes, Types)

Sleep apnea treatment in Sandpoint, ID begins with understanding the condition. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during the night. It occurs when the muscles in the throat and the base of the tongue relax, causing them to fall back and completely block the airway, so no air can get through at all for periods of time while sleeping. The most common form is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Symptoms & Health Risks

Many patients come to us asking, "Why am I so tired?" Excessive daytime sleepiness treatment is one of the key reasons people seek help. Common sleep apnea symptoms include:

• Loud, chronic snoring
• Gasping, snorting, or choking during sleep
• Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, or irritability

Untreated sleep apnea can significantly increase your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Diagnosis (Sleep Studies, Evaluation)

A diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment. We can work with your local physician or one of our partnered sleep physicians to have a sleep test delivered to your home that is easy to take yourself. Once you take the test, the results will be discussed with you. If you are formally diagnosed with sleep apnea, your treatment options will be explained. These include a CPAP machine or custom sleep apnea mouthpiece.

Treatment Options

Myth: CPAP is the only therapy for sleep apnea. Not true!

While Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP therapy) is the long-established standard treatment, many patients cannot tolerate the masks and tubes. This leads to a lack of compliance, which makes the therapy ineffective. Fortunately, there is a clinically proven, comfortable, and portable alternative.

Oral-Appliance Therapy (For Mild/Moderate Cases)

Oral appliance therapy uses a custom-made "mouth guard-like" device worn during sleep. This custom sleep apnea mouthpiece is a type of Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD).

The appliance stabilizes the jaw so it cannot fall back, which prevents the tongue from blocking the airway.

Many patients are more satisfied with an oral appliance because they are more comfortable, noise-free, and significantly more portable than a CPAP machine. Oral-Appliance Therapy (OAT) is a highly effective CPAP alternative for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. If you are looking for the best sleep apnea treatment in Sandpoint, OAT is a viable option for you.

What to Expect / Long-Term Management

If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea by your physician and prefer a sleep appliance, our Sandpoint sleep apnea dental team will take precise dental impressions and have our dental laboratory create the custom-fit Oral Appliance Therapy device for you.

Dr. MacNeill will make any necessary adjustments to ensure proper fit so that you get maximum results and comfort. She will have follow-up appointments with you to make any needed adjustments to successfully improve your sleep.

We work with many medical insurance plans including Medicare. We will bill your medical insurance and are able to give you out-of-pocket estimates prior to any treatment.

Myth: Oral Appliance Therapy Isn't as Effective as a CPAP at Treating Sleep Apnea

Studies show that a CPAP is very effective at treating sleep apnea if you can wear it regularly. Some patients cannot tolerate the masks and tubes though. Many patients are more satisfied with an oral appliance because they are more comfortable, are noise-free and are more portable than a CPAP.

How Can I Get Started With An Oral Appliance?

1. We will discuss taking an easy sleep test at your home.
   * We are able to bill your medical insurance, including Medicare, and are able to give you out of pocket estimates prior to any treatment.
2. Sleep test results will be reviewed and discussed with you with the help of your physician or one of our partnered sleep physicians. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, your options will be discussed. These include a CPAP or a sleep appliance.
3. If you prefer a sleep appliance, our team will take dental impressions and have our dental laboratory make the oral appliance custom fit for you.

Sandpoint Sleep Apnea Treatment FAQs

1. Is Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) as effective as CPAP?

OAT is clinically proven to be highly effective for patients with mild to moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea. While a CPAP is effective, OAT often boasts higher patient satisfaction rates because it is more comfortable, portable, and easier to use regularly, making it a powerful CPAP alternative Sandpoint.

2. What is the first step to getting an oral appliance?

The first step is an evaluation and a sleep study (often a convenient home test) to confirm an official diagnosis of sleep apnea and obtain a physician’s prescription for a medical oral appliance.

3. Will my insurance cover the cost of a prescribed oral appliance?

Treatment for diagnosed sleep apnea is typically covered by medical insurance, not dental. We will verify your benefits and provide an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs before treatment.

4. How long does the process take from start to finish?

Once you have a prescription, the process involves taking impressions, laboratory fabrication (a few weeks), and fitting appointments with Dr. MacNeill at our convenient Sandpoint dental office to ensure your custom sleep apnea mouthpiece is perfectly adjusted for your comfort and effectiveness.

5. Does OAT only treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?

Yes, oral appliance therapy is specifically designed to treat OSA, which is caused by a physical blockage. It is not used for Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), which is a failure of the brain to signal breathing.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. MacNeill to learn more about sleep apnea treatment options in Sandpoint!

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