Sleep Apnea & DNA Appliance

How we are transforming sleep apnea treatment: 

Daytime-nighttime Appliance supports lasting, real results

Due to our extensive onsite capabilities, Integrated Family Dentistry is optimally equipped to care for more than the health and aesthetics of the teeth and gums. Our dentist, Dr. Mercedes Del Valle, has developed considerable skills in highly specialized branches of dentistry, such as dental sleep medicine. As such, Dr. Del Valle has effective and easy-to-use therapies to prevent the many complications of sleep apnea without CPAP. These approaches include oral therapy with the DNA appliance. 

About apnea

The term “apnea” is derived from the Greek word apnoia, which means “without breath.” So, sleep apnea literally refers to a lack of breath during sleep. It is among those conditions that are described as “sleep-disordered breathing” (SDB). As you might imagine, such disordered breathing is a serious condition. It has equally profound implications for patients’ overall health and quality of life. 

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. When you are at rest, the muscles at the back of your throat become overly relaxed. These tissues block your airway. Sensing you can’t breathe, your brain panics. It forces you awake, often with a loud snort and a gasp. As your airway reopens suddenly and with a start, you resume sleep. The process can be repeated dozens of times each hour you are asleep. For this reason, you may feel fatigued despite being in bed for eight-plus hours each night. You are not getting quality, restorative sleep. You are unknowingly experiencing dangerous and continual interruptions. In addition to persistent and unexplained fatigue, our patients with OSA often complain about:

• Chronic tension headaches and migraines, especially when waking up
• Problems with concentrating
• Being irritable 
• Changes in their moods and personality
• Poor memory 
• Dry mouth 
• Very loud snoring, which can interfere with partners’ and family members’ sleep, too

The long-term consequences of untreated sleep apnea are alarming. In addition to poor performance at work or school and the strain this condition can place on relationships, medical complications include:

• Weight gain 
• Metabolic syndrome 
• Hypertension 
• Cardiovascular disease
• Heart attack

Fortunately, customized oral appliances present an effective and easy-to-wear alternative to bulky CPAP therapy. The DNA (daytime-nighttime appliance) available at Integrated Family Dentistry is also distinctive from other oral appliances. It is among the select few such devices designed to non-surgically alter the anatomy responsible for OSA. In other words, the DNA device actually treats the underlying source of the problem. 

Other appliances merely adjust the position of the jaw or tongue to move these tissues out of the way. So they don’t block your airway when you relax during sleep. The DNA option facilitates the changes that allow you to breathe safely, healthily, and properly, ultimately, without using the appliance. Other devices must be worn for life. But, with DNA, it is a temporary treatment that gets permanent results. Experience this transformative treatment for yourself. Call (541) 204-3939 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Del Valle at our Eugene, OR office today.