Sleep Apnea & Snoring Therapy

Snoring

Snoring affects millions of people of all ages, both male and female. It is caused by the vibrations of your soft and/or hard tissue palates. These vibrations occur because of increasingly narrow air passages. When air passes through these passages, a “flapping” sound occurs because the tissue is soft in nature. Surgery to alleviate the snoring is not always successful, however, because the sound may not originate from the soft palate; the snoring sometimes originates from tissues in the upper airway.

Common causes:

  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Health problems
  • Obesity
  • Obstructed nasal passages – deviated septum
  • Poor muscle tone of the tongue
  • Daytime fatigue
  • Sleep apnea
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Allergies

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can cause fatigue, and lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke and other serious health problems.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. OSA occurs due to a physical blockage, usually the collapsing of the soft tissue in the back of the throat. In some cases, the blockage of air is so great that no air can get through, causing repeated awakenings throughout the night. Loud snorers often experience OSA.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

  • Insomnia
  • Loud snoring
  • Headaches upon waking
  • Sleeping / drowsiness during the day
  • Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat

Treatment for Snoring and Sleep Apnea

Oral appliance therapy is the most common treatment for severe snoring. We recommend the Narval mandibular repositioning device (MRD). This appliances is customized using CAD/CAM technology and is designed to prevent snoring and OSA by moving the jaw forward during sleep.

We also utilize the SomnoDent oral appliance. This device effectively treats mild to moderate cases of OSA by moving the lower jaw slightly forward during sleep.

Other treatment options include lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, exercise, and avoiding alcohol and smoking. In extreme cases, surgery is recommended.