Oral Sleep Appliances

Did you know that your loud, persistent snoring at night not only keeps your bed partner up at night, but also could be a sign of a deeper concern, like a sleep disorder?

Chronic, loud snoring is a telltale sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a dangerous sleep disorder that actually causes you to stop breathing throughout the night, waking you up. This can happen multiple times throughout the night without you realizing it, impacting your restful sleep.

The good news is that Dr. Link has undergone extensive training through the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) to become an AADSM Qualified Dentist. She offers custom oral appliances that help open the airway for clear breathing at night, reducing the symptoms and impact of sleep apnea and helping with chronic snoring.

OSA occurs when a blocked airway reduces the amount of oxygen you can take in throughout the night. When you can’t breathe freely, it signals your brain to wake you up, and the whole process starts over again.

The standard of medical care for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which requires you to wear a mask while you sleep to deliver positive pressure to keep your airway open. Some patients find the mask difficult to wear during sleep, so Dr. Link offers an alternative: a custom oral appliance.

The oral appliance is customized to your mouth and is comfortable and easy to wear, much like an orthodontic retainer. It is designed to gently reposition your jaw to help you breathe freely throughout the night.

The first step in learning more about a custom oral appliance for sleep apnea or snoring is to book an evaluation with Dr. Link. If you haven’t been diagnosed with sleep apnea, she may recommend a sleep study to determine if you have it and how severe it is.

You can request a visit with Dr. Link online or call Doylestown Dental Group at (215) 345-1155 to schedule an appointment.