6100 W. 41st St. Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Restoring Healthy Breathing for Better Sleep
Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is an anatomical condition in which the airway becomes narrowed or blocked, preventing normal breathing during sleep. These interruptions cause blood oxygen levels to drop to unsafe levels, effectively starving the body's organs of the oxygen they need. Severity is measured by how often these episodes occur each hour, ranging from mild to severe. For patients throughout Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, and Tea struggling with these symptoms, Designer Dentistry & Smiles offers advanced sleep apnea treatment designed to restore healthy breathing and improve overall sleep quality.
Left untreated, sleep apnea does far more than disrupt a good night's rest. It places ongoing strain on the body that can affect long-term health in serious ways.
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Why Treating Sleep Apnea Matters
Ongoing sleep apnea places significant, repeated stress on the body, and the effects extend well beyond feeling tired the next day.
- Protects Your Cardiovascular System - Repeated drops in oxygen force the heart to work harder, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke over time.
- Improves Sleep Quality - Treating the underlying blockage allows the body to reach the deep, restorative sleep stages it needs.
- Reduces Daytime Fatigue - Better sleep quality helps address the fatigue, memory issues, and difficulty concentrating that often accompany untreated OSA.
- Supports Healthy Weight and Metabolism - Poor sleep is linked to weight gain and insulin resistance, both of which can improve with effective treatment.
- Addresses the Root Cause - Rather than simply managing symptoms, treatment can target the anatomical issues contributing to airway blockage.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
OSA is fundamentally an anatomical issue. When the jaws do not fully develop to their genetic potential, they can end up smaller and set back, a pattern that often shows up as crooked teeth, a narrow, highly vaulted palate, or a facial profile with a small, recessed chin. A narrow, set-back jaw forces the tongue to sit lower and further back into the airway space, which can lead to mouth breathing, snoring, and apnea. Once asleep, particularly on the back, the muscles relax further, allowing the tongue and soft palate to fall back and block the airway.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
Because the causes of OSA are often multifaceted, effective treatment frequently requires a tailored, sometimes multi-pronged approach.
Sleep Study and Diagnosis
A sleep study helps determine the severity of your condition and informs the most appropriate treatment path.
CPAP or Jaw Advancement Surgery
For patients with severe OSA, a CPAP machine or jaw advancement surgery performed by an oral surgeon is often the most effective option.
Oral Appliance Therapy
For patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or have a milder form of OSA, a custom oral appliance can hold the lower jaw in a more forward position, keeping the tongue clear of the airway.
Addressing Soft Palate Blockages
If the soft palate is contributing to airway blockage, a treatment such as NightLase may be recommended alongside or instead of an oral appliance.
Correcting Underlying Anatomy
Orthodontic treatment to widen a narrow palate or straighten crooked teeth can help improve airway space over the long term.
Oral Appliance Therapy as a Comfortable Alternative
For many patients, an oral appliance offers a more comfortable and manageable alternative to CPAP therapy. These devices, sometimes called sleep apnea appliances for the mouth, fit over the teeth and gently hold the lower jaw forward, keeping the tongue out of the airway throughout the night. There are many styles available, each with its own advantages, but we particularly favor the Narval CC by ResMed for its thin, durable design that maximizes tongue space, the primary goal of effective oral appliance therapy.
In some cases, underlying issues such as an undiagnosed tongue tie or improper swallowing patterns contribute to poor jaw and airway development. A frenectomy can correct a tied tongue, while myofunctional therapy can help retrain muscle habits and support healthier nasal breathing. The goal across all these treatments is the same: maximizing airway space with the least invasive approach possible for each individual patient.
Is Sleep Apnea Treatment Right for You?
If you experience loud snoring, frequent awakenings, morning headaches, or persistent daytime fatigue, it may be worth exploring whether sleep apnea is the underlying cause. A sleep study conducted by qualified sleep specialists can help determine the severity of the condition and guide the most appropriate treatment plan. Our team works alongside sleep physicians to identify whether oral appliance therapy, orthodontic treatment, or another approach is the best fit for your specific case.
Ready to Sleep and Breathe Better?
Sleep apnea affects far more than your energy level the next day, and it deserves a treatment plan built around your specific anatomy and needs. Our team is here to help you understand your options and take the first step toward healthier sleep.
Real Patients. Real Results.
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