How Oral Devices Can Improve Relationships Affected by Sleep Apnea

While the snorer may not get the deep sleep they need because of obstructed breathing, the silent partner will struggle to fall asleep because of the loud, continuous snoring. This may lead to a phenomenon called sleep divorce.

This can impact a relationship greatly, creating a lack of intimacy and feeling distant from each other. It can strain relationships, which is part of the reason it’s important to treat snoring.

However, snoring may be a result of a bigger issue as well. Loud, continuous snoring is often a symptom of sleep apnea.

Luckily, Klooster Family Dentistry is here to help. Our oral appliances can help resolve sleep apnea symptoms, leading to restful nights for both partners.

Keep reading to learn how these innovative devices can save your relationship—and maybe your life.

Here are just a few of the dental sleep medicine services we offer you to help make your experience easy and worry-free.

• In-Network With Most Insurance Providers: Our practice is in-network with many common medical insurance providers. For patients who are not in-network, or those who are not sure, we verify your insurance benefits on your behalf to ensure coverage
• Financing Options: We’re proud to offer in-house financing for out-of-pocket costs and cash patients at 0% interest for 6 months
• Cutting-Edge Technology: We are committed to using the latest scanning tools and digital technology, helping you receive a custom-fitted oral appliance for sleep apnea therapy
• Care You Can Count On: We are a private practice, not a corporate dentist. We give you the same level of care we would for our families, and our many positive reviews support this

According to the National Sleep Foundation, around 30 million Americans suffer from sleep disordered breathing, which causes pauses in breathing, or apneas, throughout the night and leads to disturbed sleep.

These apnea episodes can create symptoms, including loud snoring and gasping for air, which can disturb both the patient and their partner.

In the short term, it can lead to chronic fatigue and daytime sleepiness because the lapses in breathing prevent the patient from having deep, restful sleep as they are constantly reawakened to keep breathing. It can also cause irritability and mood swings that may impact the relationship.

Sleep apnea can become very serious in the long term. The sleep deprivation it causes is linked to an increased risk of health complications that can have devastating impacts, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. This is because the upper airway obstructions reduce the oxygen flow to your vital organs.

It’s important to seek an effective treatment plan for sleep apnea to help you and your partner sleep more soundly and improve your overall well-being.

The secondary effects of sleep apnea include a long-term health decline. This may mean one partner must act as a caregiver to the other. This can add significant stress for both partners.

The patient feels helpless and burdensome, while the caregiver is more exhausted and stressed, handling extra tasks and dealing with financial implications from their partner’s health issues.

This can turn into anxiety and depression that impact their everyday life over time. They may be less inclined to be a good partner as a result—they may feel too low to engage in intimacy, plan dates, or create fun memories with their partner.

The partner can feel this impact too. They may feel distant from the patient due to their low moods and depression, making it harder to engage and connect in the relationship. These feelings can cause major issues in the relationship over time, sometimes leading to separation.

Don’t let your sleep apnea be the reason you lose your relationship. This disorder is highly treatable, and Klooster is here to help with innovative oral appliances.

They are similar in appearance to a mouth guard, fit securely over the teeth, and gently reposition the lower jaw and tongue forward. This slight adjustment prevents airway collapse, the primary cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), allowing for steady airflow throughout the night.

By keeping the airway open, oral appliances help reduce snoring, prevent sudden gasping for air, and promote uninterrupted, restorative sleep.

Unlike continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, which use a stream of pressurized air and can produce noise that may disturb a bed partner, oral appliances work without motors or airflow, making them completely quiet.

Oral appliance therapy ensures a more peaceful sleep environment for the user and their partner.

Unlike CPAP machines, which require power and tubing to treat severe obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliances fit discreetly into a small case and require no additional equipment. They are simple to clean and maintain, with no need for regular part replacements or complex setups.

Another key advantage of oral appliance therapy over CPAP therapy is comfort and ease of use. Since they are custom-molded to fit the user’s mouth, oral appliances provide a snug yet comfortable fit.

They do not obstruct movement during sleep, and most users adapt to wearing them quickly. This makes them an excellent option for those who find CPAP masks uncomfortable or cannot tolerate CPAP therapy.

Oral appliances for sleep apnea offer a practical, low-maintenance alternative to treat sleep apnea and improve sleep quality with their combination of effectiveness, convenience, and comfort.

We provide effective CPAP machine alternatives to treat sleep apnea with highly personalized, comprehensive care that will improve your quality of life.

Contact us today to learn more about how oral appliance therapy can eliminate snoring, improve your and your partner’s sleep quality, and make sleep divorce a thing of the past.