Do you snore loudly at night? Are your days full of fatigue or headaches? Like approximately 70 million people in the United States, you may have a sleep disorder. One of the most common types of sleep disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, also known as OSA. The condition causes breathing to stop multiple times throughout the night. Every time you stop breathing, the lack of oxygen wakes your brain, disrupting your sleep.
Dr. Mickiewicz, a sleep medicine physician, can treat OSA with a custom-fitted oral appliance in Sacramento, CA. The mandibular advancement device, or MAD, is an effective treatment to decrease snoring and relieve OSA.
What Are the Benefits of Using a MAD?
After only a few nights of sleeping with a mandibular advancement device, you may notice that you feel more:
- Rested
- Energetic
- Alert during the day
- Able to focus at work
- Calm
- Upbeat and positive
The cessation of snoring will certainly benefit your bed partner. Other benefits of a MAD include the prevention of medical complications. Constant waking can activate the body’s fight-or-flight response. This can affect your heart rate, blood pressure, and hormone levels.
If not treated, OSA can lead to a wide range of health problems that include:
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Acid reflux
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Depression
Sleep apnea has even been linked to an elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Individuals who snore heavily release high levels of a toxic protein called tau, the bio-hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The link between the degenerative disease and obstructive sleep apnea is currently being studied by the American Academy of Neurology.
How Can a Mandibular Advancement Device Help Me Sleep?
A MAD maintains the jaw in a more forward position to ensure that the airway is unobstructed during sleep. By slightly repositioning the lower jaw, the device effectively increases the size of the upper airway while reducing the air resistance that causes snoring.
Mandibular advancement devices are comfortable to wear, easy to transport, and easy to maintain and clean. The devices look similar to a mouthguard and are custom molded to fit snuggly in your mouth.
There are three types of MADs:
- Boil and bite (which can be bought from pharmacies or online)
- Semi-custom
- Custom dental MADs (which require a physician referred)
Am I a Candidate for a MAD?
Prior to treatment, you will need to be diagnosed by a certified sleep medicine physician such as Dr. Mickiewicz. During your examination, Dr. Mickiewicz will inquire into your symptoms, examine your mouth and throat, and possibly perform x-rays or other forms of imaging. Because using a MAD is considered a safe and non-invasive treatment, most individuals who could benefit from the use of a MAD are likely candidates.
Contact The Office of Timothy E. Mickiewicz Today
If you are suffering from missed sleep or pain in the neck or facial area, schedule a meeting with Dr. Mickiewicz.
Our esteemed physician has received certifications through both the ACSDD (Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines) and AAIPM (Academy of Integrative Pain Management). His compassion and knowledge set him apart from other sleep medicine doctors. Schedule your appointment with us online or call us at (916) 469-9178. Our Sacramento, CA office is ready to help you live a life free of OSA!
