Sleep apnea can wreak havoc on your sleep, but it's also not easy for your partner. Sleep apnea causes extremely loud snoring which can be hard to sleep through, especially if your loved one is worried about your health. However, most treatments also produce loud noises all night long which are sometimes just as bad - or even worse - than listening to you snore. If you want to take care of yourself and avoid putting your partner through a sleepless night, read on to learn about a noiseless option for sleep apnea treatment:

How Sleep Apnea Machines Work

Whether or not you're currently using a sleep apnea machine, you probably know that they use an air pump to help you to breathe. The way that they work is by using pressurized air to force your airway open while you're unconscious. Without the sleep apnea machine, your airway collapses, making it much harder for you to breathe and causing severe snoring and reduced oxygen intake.

Sleep apnea machines are effective, but unfortunately, the air pump makes a lot of noise. Unfortunately, there are no sleep apnea machines that are silent, but there is still one other option that won't make any noise at all.

How Sleep Apnea Appliances Differ

Sleep apnea appliances use the same concept to help you to breathe at night, but they work differently. Instead of forcing your airway open with pressurized air, sleep apnea appliances gently pull your lower jaw forward to prevent the airway from collapsing in the first place. These appliances look and function similarly to dental retainers. Since the appliance doesn't have any moving parts or motorized functionality, it doesn't make any noise while still offering you the benefits you expect.

In fact, they're manufactured by dentists who take the measurements necessary to create a one-of-a-kind, comfortable appliance for you.

What To Expect

If you're interested in a sleep apnea appliance, you should pay your dentist a visit. Bring along any documentation you have from your doctor regarding your sleep apnea. Your dentist will read your documentation and perform a physical exam. If they believe that your sleep apnea can be treated with a sleep apnea appliance, they'll take measurements of your mouth, teeth, and jaw and send the information to the manufacturer. When your new appliance is ready, it will be sent to your dentist's office, and you'll be called in to have it fitted.

If everything fits properly, you'll be free to go home with it and begin wearing it immediately. All you need to do is to put it on your teeth before going to bed. You may initially feel a little pressure as you get used to it, but most people adjust quickly to the sensation.

Going without sleep apnea treatment isn't an option. Doing so can put your health at risk, and your partner is likely to still suffer a noisy night even if you tried. Instead, work with a dentist to choose an option that relieves your health condition and allows your partner to sleep easily.

Contact a company like Leidenheimer Dental Group Inc for more information and assistance.